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Form  934— 20il— 7-3c 


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THE 

Saints  Everlafting  Reft: 

OR,    A 

TREATISE 

OF    THE 

Bleffed  State  of  the  Saints^ 

IN    TPIEIR 

Enjoyment  of  God  in  Glor}^. 


EXTRACTED    FROM     THE    WORKS    OF 

I^Ir.    RICHARD    BAXTER, 
By    J  0  H  N    IV  E  S  L  E  r,    M.  A. 

LATE     FELLOW    OF    LINCOLN     COLLEGE,    OXFORD. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

PRINTED    BY    HENRY    TUCKNISS,    NO.   ij,    CHURCf>ALLE7, 

AND   SOLD   3Y    JOHN  DICXINSf    NO.  44,    NORTH    SECOND 

STREET,     NEAR    ARCH     STREET, 


M  DCC   XCIV. 


[     iii     ] 


TO    THE 


INHABITANTS 


OP 


KIDDERMINSTER. 


My  Dear  Friends, 

JF  either  I  or  my  labours  have  a;iy  thing  of 
public  ufe  or  worth,  it  is  wholly  (though 
not  only)  yours.  And  I  am  convinced  by  Provi- 
dence, that  it  is  the  will  of  God  k  fliould  be  fo. 
This  I  clearly  difcerned  in  my  firft  coming^^p  you, 
in  my  former  abode  with  you,  and  in  the  time 
of  my  forced  abfence  from  you.  When  I  was  fer 
paraled  by  the  mifevies  of  the  late  unhappy  war, 
I  durft  not  fix  in  any  other  congregation,  bit« 
lived  in  a  military  unpleafing  ftate,  left  I  fliould 
forellaH  my  return  to  you.  The  offers  of  greater 
worldly  accomodations  were  no  temptation  to  ni<: 
once  to  queftion  whether  I  fnould  leave  you  : 
your  free  invitation  of  my  return,  ypur  obedi- 
ence to  my  dcclrine,  the  ftrong  afTe^lion  v.-hich 
Ihave  yet  towards  you  above  all  people,  and  the 
general  hearty  return  of  love  which  I  find  from 
you,  do  all  perfuade  me,  that  I  was  fent  into  the 
world  efpecially  for  the  fervice  of  your  fouls : 
and  that  even  when  I  am  dead,  I  might  be  yet 
a  help  to  your  falvation,  the  Lord  hath  forced. 

O  ^J  ^  *"?  O  -'^ 

ii  i  o  o  i:^  o 


[ 


IV 


J 


me,  quite  befide  my  own  refolution,  to  write  this 
treat if(',  and  leave  it  in  your  hands.  It  was  far 
from  iViV  thoughts  ever  to  have  become  thus  pub- 
lic, and  burdened  the  world  with  any  writing  of 
nine  :  therefore  have  I  often  refifted  the  requeft 
of  my  leverend  brethren,  and  fome  fuperiors^ 
who  might  clfe  have  commanded  much  more  at 
iiiy  hanii.s.  But  fee  how  God  over-ruleth  and 
crolTcih  our  refolutions ! 

Being  in  my  quarters  far  from  home,  cad  in- 
to extreme  languiOiing  (by  the  fudden  lofs  of  a- 
bout  a  gallon  of  blood,  after  many  years  fore- 
going weuknefs,  and  having  no  acquaintance 
Tibout  me,  nor  any  book  but  my  Bible,  and  lir- 
ing  in  eontinual  expedition  of  death,  I  bent  my 
thoughts  on  my  everlafling  reft:  and  becaufe  my 
memory,  through  extreme  weaknefs,  was  imper- 
fect,  ^V*'took  my  pen,  and  began  to  ciravr  up  my 
own  funeral  fermon,  or  fome  help  for  my  owa 
meditations  of  heaven,  to  fweeten  both  the  reft 
of  my  life,  and  my  death.  In  this  condition 
God  was  pleafed  to  continue  me  about  five 
months  from  home  ;  where  being  able  for  nothing 
elfe,  I  went  on  with  this  work,  which  lengthened 
to  this  which  you  here  fee.  It  is  no  w^onder 
therefore  if  I  be  too  abrupt  in  the  begmning,  fee- 
ing I  [hen  intended  but  the  length  of  a  fermon  or 
two.  Much  lefs  may  you  wonder  if  the  whole 
be  very  imperfe<Sl,  feeing  it  was  written  as  it  were 
"with  one  foot  in  the  grave,  by  a  man  that  w^ir 
botwixt  the  living  and  dead,  that  wauced  (trength 
of  nature  to  quicken  invention  or  afFeclion,  and 
had  no  book  but  his  Bible,  while  the  chief  part 
was  finilhed.     But  how  fwect  is  this  Providence 

no)v 


[ 


V       ] 


now  to  my  review,  which  (o  liappily  forced  me 
to  that  work  of  meditation,  which  I  had  former- 
ly found  fo  profitable  to  my  foul !  and  fiiewed 
me  more  mercy  in  depriving  me  of  other  helps, 
than  I  was  aware  of!  and  hath  caufed  my 
thoughts  to  feed  on  this  heavenly  fubjeft,  which 
hath  more  benefited  me  than  all  the  fludies  of 
my  Ilk. 

And  now,  dear  friends,  fuch  as  it  is,  I  here 
offer  it  you  ;  and  upon  the  knees  of  my  foul,  I 
offer  up  my  thanks  to  the  merciful  God,  who 
hath  fetched  up  both  me  and  it,  as  from  the  grave 
for  your  f^^rvice  :  who  reverfed  the  fentence  of 
prefent  death,  which  by  the  ableft  phyficians  was 
pad  upon  me  \  who  interrupted  my  public  labours 
for  a  time,  that  he  might  trace  me  to  do  you  a 
more  lafting  fervice,  which  elfe  I  Iiad  never  been 
like  to  have  attempted  !  That  God  do  I  heartily 
blefs  and  magnify,  who  hath  refcued  me  from 
the  many  dangers  of  four  years  war,  and  after  fo 
many  tedious  nights  and  days,  and  fo  many  dole- 
ful fights  and  tidings,  hath  returned  me,  and 
many  of  yourfelves,  and  reprieved  us  now  to  ferve 
him  in  peace  !  And  though  men  be  ungrateful, 
and  my  body  ruined  beyond  hope  of  recovery: 
yet  he  hath  made  up  all  ill  the  comforts  I  have 
in  you.  To  the  God  of  mercy  I  do  here  oiTer 
up  my  miofb  hearty  thanks,  who  hath  not  reject- 
ed my  prayers,  but  hath  by  a  wonder  delivered 
me  in  the  midll  of  my  duties  :  and  hath  fupported 
me  thefe  fourteen  years  in  a  languifliing  ftatc, 
wliercin  I  have  fcarce  had  a  waking  hour  free 
from  pain  :  who  hath  above  twenty  feverai 
tuDCS  delivered  nie  when  I  was  near  death.  And 
A  z  though 

275323 


[  vl  ] 

t'lou^h  he  hath  mat'e  me  fpend  my  c!ays  in  groan 3 
;;;ul  tears,  and  in  a  conltnnt  expe6l:ition  of  my 
v;..ir;ge,  yet  he  hath  not  wholly  difab'ed  me  for 
i)is  lervicej  and  hereby  hath  more  e{fe£lually 
fabducd  my  pride,  and  made  tliis  world  con- 
teiv.p:ible  to  me,  and  forced  my  dull  heart  to 
r»icre  importiinate  rcquefls,  and  dccafioncd  more 
T?iYC  difcovcri^^s  of  his  mercy  than  ever  I  could 
luve  expected  in  a  pre  fpcrous  flute. 


TH 


[     7     T 


THE 


Saints  Everlafling  Refi 


Hebrews,  iv.   9. 


There  ycMwhieih  ihercjjye  a  Rcf.   to  tJ:j  Peo^It   of 
God. 


.      C  H  A  P.     I. 

This  Re/l  defined, 

r  \rr.s  not  only  o\v:  ir.tercfl  in  Go^^  and  a^ir.al 
fruition  of  hiin,  which  was  loft  in  JiJamh  fall  ; 
bat  nil  r^iritual  knowlcdg'e  of  him,  and  true  difpoii- 
tioii  tov/ards  fuch  a  felicity.  Man  hat!)  now  ai;  hcnrt 
too  fnitable  to  his  edate  ;  a  low  llate,  and  a  I'^w  fpiiit. 
As  the  poor  man  that  would  not  believe  thnt  zv,y  gne 
rann  had  fuch  a  fum  as  an  hundred  pounds,  it  was  {o 
far  above  what  he  poiTelTed  :  fo  man  will  harcly  now 
believe,"  that  there  is  fuch.  an  happinefs  as  once  he  had, 
much  lefs  as  Chrift  hath  now  procured. 

The  apofile  befiows  moH:  of  this  eplille  in  proving 
to  the  Jews,  that  the  end  of  all  ceiemonies  and  iha- 
dows,  is  'lO  direifi:  them  to  Jcfus  Chrii^:,  the  fubitance  ; 
and  t!!?.t  the  red  of  fabbaths,  and  Cincan,  fhould 
ttach  tliem  to  look  for  a  futnre  rert.  My  text  is  Lis 
uor,<4unon  after  dlvs;rs  argutneiUs  to  that  end  ;  a  con- 

clufioa 


S        The  Saints  Everfnfling  Rejl, 

clufion  fo  urefiil  to  a  believer,  as  containing  the  ground 
of  all  his  comforts,  the  end  of  all  his  duty  and  fulTer- 
ings,  that  you  may  eafily  be  fatisfied,  why  I  have  made 
it  the  fubjedl  of  my  pi-efent  difcourfe.  What  more 
welcome  to  men  under  affli6lIons,  than  reft  ?  What 
.more  welcome  news  to  men  under  public  calamities  ? 
Hearers,  I  pray  God  your  entertainment  of  it,  be  but 
half  anfwerable  to  the  excellency  of  the  fubjeft  ;  and 
then  you  will  have  caufe  to  blcfs  God,  while  you 
live,  that  ever  you  heard  it,  as  I  have  that  ever  I  flii- 
died  it» 

Let  u'!  fee,  I.  What  this  reft  is.  2.  What  \\\t{t 
people  of  God,  asid  why  fo  called.  3.  The  truth  of 
this  from  other  fcripture -arguments.  4.  Why  this 
reft  m.uft  yet  remain.  5.  Why  only  to  the  people  of 
God.     6.  VV'hat  ufc  to  make  of  it. 

And  though  the  fenfe  of  the  text  includes  in  the 
word  Rejli  all  that  eafe  and  fafety  which  a  foul,  wea- 
ried with  the  burden  of  fin  and  fuffering,  and  purfued 
by  law,  wrath  and  confcience,  hath  with  Chrift  in  this 
life,  the  reft  of  grace  :  yet  btcaufe  it  chiefly  intends 
the  reft  of  eternal  glory,  1  ftiall  conline  my  difcourfe 
to  this. 

The  reft  here  in  queftion  is,  the  moft  hnppy  eftate 
of  a  chriftian,  having  obtained  tlie  end  of  his  courfe  : 
or,  it  is  the  perfecl  endlefs  fruition  of  God  by  the  per- 
feclcd  faints,  according  to  the  meafure  of  their  capa- 
city, to  which  their  fouls  arrive  at  death  :  and  both 
foul  and  body  moft  fully  after  the  rcfurredion  and. 
final  judgment. - 

I.   I  call  it  the  eftate  of  a  chriftian,  to  note  both 
the  adive  and  pafftve   fruition,    wherein   a  chriftian'.s 
bleffednefs   lies,    and   the  cftabliftied    continuance    cf 
feoth.     Our  title  will  be  per  fed,  and  perfe6\ly  clear- 
ed;. 


The  Saints  'Eh^erlafttng  Reji.        9 

cd  ;  onrfelves,  and  -fo  our  capacity  perfected  :  our 
pofTcflTion  and  fecurity  for  its  perpetuity  perfccl  ;  ouv 
recepti.)n  from  God  per^c(!^\  ;  and  therefore  our  fru- 
ition of  him,  and  confquently  our  happinefs,  will 
then  be  perfect  And  t!\is  is  the  crtate  whic')  we  now 
briefly  menilon,  and  fhall  afterwards  more  fully  de- 
fcribe. 

2.  T  call  It  the  moft  happy  tftate,  to  difference  it 
not  only  from  ;dl  fet  mln^  happinefs  which  Is  to  be 
found  In  the  enjoyment  of  creatures,  but  aiio  from  all 
thofe  beginnings,  firetaftes,  and  imperfe6l  degrees 
which  we  have  in  this  life. 

3.  I  call  It  the  eftate  of  a  chrlfiian,  where  I  mean 
only  the  fiucere,  regenerate,  fanttlfied  chriftlan, 
whofc  foul  having  dlfcovered  that  excellency  in  God 
through  Chrirt,  clofeth  with  him,  and  is  cordially  fct 
upon  him. 

4.  Tadd,  That  this  happinefs  confifts  in  obtaining 
the  end,  where  f  mean  the  ultimate  and  principal  end, 
not  any  fubordinate  or  lefs  principal  end,  O  how 
much  doth  our  everlalling  (late  depend  oa  our  right 
judgment  and  efllmation  of  our  end  ! 

But  it  is  a  doubt  with  many,  whether  the  attain- 
ment, of  this  glory  may  be  our  end  ?  Nay,  concluded, 
that  it  is  mercenary  :  yea,  that  to  make  falvatlon  the 
end  of  duty,  Is  to  be  a  Legallft,  and  acl  under  a  co- 
venant of  works,  whofe  tenour  is,  D^  this  and  /ive. 
And  many  that  think  it  may  be  our  end,  yet  think 
it  may  not  be  our  ultimate  end  ;  for  that  fiiould  be  on- 
ly the  glory  of  God.      I  (hall  anfwcr  thefe  briefly. 

I.  It  is  properly  called  mercenary,  when  we  expe<fb 
it  as  wages  for  work  done  ;  and  fo  we  may  not  make 
it  our  end.  Otherwife  It  fr.  only  fuch  a  mercenarlnefs 
as  Chrid  commandeLh.     For  confidcr  what  this  end  Is ; 

it: 


to      The  Saints  Eberlajling  Reji, 

ft  is  the  fruition  of  God  in   Ch.rift  :    and,  if   feekiii^- 
Chriil  be  mercenary, 'I  defire  to  be  fo  mercenary. 

2.  It  is  not  a  note  of  a  Legalift  neither.  It  luth 
been  the  ground  of  a  multitude  of  hite  miftakes  in 
divinity,  to  think,  X.\\z\.  Do  this  and  live ^  is  only  the 
language  of  the  covenant  of  works.  It  is  true,  ia 
fomc  Anfe  it  is;  but  in  other,  not.  The  law  of  works 
only  faith,  Do  this  f  that  is,  perfectly  fulfil  the  whole  law) 
and  i'tve  ;that  is,  for  fo  doing)  :  But  the  law  of  grace 
faith,  Do  this  nnci  livey  too  :  that  is,  believe  in  Chrift, 
feek  him,  obi:'y  him  fincercly.  as  thy  Lord  and  King  ; 
foiTake  all,  fulTer  all  things,  asd  overcome,  and  by  fo 
doing,  or  in  fo  doing,  ycu  (hall  live.  If  you  fct  up 
the  abrogat-ed  duties  of  the  law  arrain,  you  are  a  Le- 
galift :  if  you  fet  up  the  duties  of  the  gofpel  in  ChrilVs 
llt-ad,  in.  whole  or  in  part,  you  crr-llIU.  Chrift  hath 
h\h  place  and  work  ;  duty  hath  its  place  and  vi-ork  too : 
fct  it  but  in  its  own  plac(i,  and  expeft  from  it  but  itfi 
own  part,  and  you  go  right  ;  yea,  more  (how  unfa- 
youry  foever  the  phrafe  may  feem)  you  may,  fo  far  as 
thfs  comes  to,  truft  to  your  duty  and  works  ;  that  is, 
for  their  own  part :  and  many  mifcarry  in  expedllng 
nothing  from  them  (as  to  pray,  and  to  expe6l  nothing 
the  more)  that  is,  from  Chrift  in  a  way  of  duty.  For 
if  duty  have  no  fnare,  why  may  we  not  truft  Chrift  as 
•well  in  a  way  of  difobeditntze  as  duty?  In  a  word, 
you  m.uft  both  ufe  and  truft  duty  in  fubordination  to 
Chrift,  but  neither  ufe  them  nor  truft  them  in  co-or- 
dination with, him.  So  that  this  derogates  nothing 
from  Chrift  ;  for  he  hath  done,  and  will  do  all  his 
work  perfedly,  and  enableth  his  people  to  do  tlieirs  : 
yet  he  is  not  properly  faid  to  do  it  himfclf ;  he  believes 
not,  repents  not,  but  worketh  thefe  in  them  ;  that  is, 
enableih  and  exciteth  them  to  it.  No  man  muft  look 
for  more  from  duty  than  God  huth  laid  upon  it ;  and 
i'o  much  we  may  and  mufti. 

.  2.   If. 


The  Saints  Ever  la/ling'  ReJI.       1 1 . 

■  2.  If  I  flionld  quote  all  the  fcrfptures  tliat  plainly 
prove  this,  I  flunild  tranfcribe  a'great  part  of  the  bi** 
blc  :  1  will  therefore  only  defire  you  to  ftudy  what  to- 
lerable interpretation  can  be  given  of  the  following 
places,  which  will  not  prove  that  life  and  falvaiion 
may  be,  yea,  mad  be  the  end  of  duty.  John  v.  40. 
Te  luill  not  come  to  me^  that  ye  might  have  life.  Matt. 
xii.  12.  The  kingdom  of  heaven  fvffereih  violence^  nhd 
the  violent  take  it  by  force.  Matt.  vii.  13.  Luke  xiii. 
24.  Strive  to  enter  in  at  the  JraJt  gate.  Phil.  ii.  12. 
Work  out  yoin  falvation  nvith  fear  and  trembling.  Rom<, 
ii.  7.  10.  To  them  nxho  by  patient  continuance  in  ivell- 
doingf  feek  for  glory,  and  honour,  and  immortality,  eter- 
nal life.  Glory,  honour,  and  peace,  to  every  man  that 
worketh  good,  l  Cor.  ix.  24.  So  run  that  ye  miy  obtain, 
2  Tim.  ii.  12.  If  nve  fvjfer  nvith  him,  nve  Jlmll  reign 
nvith  him.  i  Tim.  vi,  12.  Fight  the  good  Jight  of  faith, 
lay  hold  on  eternal  life.  i  Tim.  vi,  18,  19.  That  they 
do  good  nvcrks,  laying  up  a  good foundaiicn  againfl  the  time 
to  come,  that  they  may  lay  hold  on  eternal  life.  Rev. 
xxii.  14.  Blejfcd  are  they  that  do  his  commandments,  that 
they  may  have  right  to  the  tree  of  life,  and  enter  in  by  the 
gates  into  the  city.  Matt.  Xxv.  34,  35,  36.  Coms  ye 
hh'Jfed  of  my  Father,  inherit,  &c.  For  I  nvas  an  hungred 
and  ye,  &c.  Luke  xi.  28.  Blejed  are  they  that  hear 
the  ivord  of  God,  and  keep  it.  Yea,  the  efcaping  of 
hell  is  a  right  end  of  duty  to  a  believer  Heb  iv.  i. 
Let  us  fear,  lejl  a  promif  being  left  us  of  entering  into  his 
fejl,  any  of  ycitjhauld  come  Jhort  of  it.  Luke  xii.  5. 
Fear  him  that  is  able  to  deflroy  both  foul  and  body  in  hell; 
yea,  (whatfoever  others  fay)  I  fay  unto  you,  fear  him, 
I  Cor.  ix.  27.  /  keep  under  my  body,  and  bring  it  into 
fuhfeiion  ;  leji,  ivhen  I  have  preached  to  others,  I  my  [elf . 
JhnulJ  be  a  caJl-aTnay.  Multitudes  of  fcriptures  and 
fcripture-arguments  might  be  brought,  but  thefc  m.ay 
fufSce  to  any  that  believe  fcripture. 

.^.  For 


i  2      The  Saints  E'verlaJIing  Rejl, 

3.  For  tliofe  that  think  this  reft  may  be  our  end, 
but  not  our  ultimate  end,  that  muft  be  God's  glory- 
only  :  I  will  not  gainfay  them.  Only  let  theai  con- 
fider,  What  God  hath  join f-iy  man  mujl  not'pparate. 
The  glorifying  himfelf,  and  the  faving  of  his  people 
(as  I  judge  ■  are  not  two  ends  with  God,  but  one; 
to  gloiifv  his  mercy  in  their  falvalion  ;  fo  I  think 
th'  y  fhould  be  with  us  together  intended  :  we  fhould 
aim  at  the  glory  of  God  ;  not  alone  confidered,  with- 
out our  fal  vat  ion,  but)  in  our  lalvation.  i  he  re  fore 
I  know  no  warrant  for  putting  fuch  a  queftion  to  our- 
felves,  as  fome  do,  whether  we  could  be  content  to 
be  damned,  fo  God  were  glorified  ?  Chrift  hath  put 
ro  fuch  queftions  to  us,  nor  bid  us  put  fuch  to  our- 
felves.  Chrift  had  rather  that  men  would  enquire  af- 
ter their  true  willingnefs  to  be  faved,  than  their  wil- 
lingnefs  to  be  damned.  Sure  I  am,  Chrift  himfelf  is 
©fFered  to  faith,  in  terms  for  the  moft  part  refpeding 
the  welfare  of  the  finner,  more  than  his  own  abilratfl- 
ed  glory.  He  would  be  received  as  a  Saviour,  medi- 
ator, redeemer,  reconciler,  and  intercefTor.  And  all 
the  precepts  of  fcripture  being  backed  with  fo  many 
promifes  and  threatenings,  €very  one  intended  of  God, 
as  a  motive  to  us,  imply  as  much. 

4.  I  call  a  chriftian's  happinefs,  the  end  of  his 
courfe,  thereby  meaning,  as  Paui^  z  Tim.  iv.  7.  the 
whole  fcope  of  his  life.  For  falvation  may  and  muft 
be  our  end  ;  and  not  only  the  end  of  our  faith  (though 
that  principally)  but  of  all  our  adlions  :  For  as  what- 
foever  we  do,  muft  be  done  to  the  glory  of  God,  fo 
muft  they  all  be  done  to  our  falvation. . 

5.  Laftlyt  I  make  happinefs  to  confift  in  this  end  ob- 
tained ;  for  it  is  not  the  mere  promife  of  it  that  imme- 
diately makes  perfectly  happy,  nor  Chrift's  mere  pur- 
chafe,  nor  our  mere  feeking,  but  the  apprehending  and 
obtaining,  which  fet§  the  crown  on  the  faint's  head. 

CHAP. 


The  Saints  Everlafting  Ilc/l.       1 3 


CHAP.     IL 

What  this  Reft  pre-fuppofeth, 

FOR  the  clearer  underftanding  the  nature  of  this 
reft,  you  muft  know, 

(i.)   There  are  feme  things  pre-fuppofed  to  it. 

(2.)   Some  things  contained  in  it. 

(i.)  All  thele  things  are  pre-fuppofed  to  this  red. 

1.  A  perfon  in  motion,  feeking  reft.  This  is  n^aa 
here  in  the  way  :  angels  have  it  already  ;  and  the  de- 
vils are  paft  hope. 

2.  An  end  towards  which  he  moveth  for  reft.  This 
can  be  only  GoD.  He  that  takcth  any  thini^  clfe  for 
happinefs,  is  out  of  the  way  the  firft  ilep  Tiie  piin- 
cipal  damning-  fin,  is,  to  make  any  thinp^  bchdes  God 
our  end  or  reft.  And  the  firft:  true  faving  ati:,  is,  to 
choofc  God  only  for  our  end  and  happintfs. 

3.  A  diftance  is  pre-fuppofed  from  this  end,  elfe 
there  can  be  no  motion  towards  it.  This  fad  diftancc 
is  the  cafe  of  all  mankind  fince  the  fall  :  it  was  our 
God  that  we  principally  loft,  and  were  fhut  out  of 
his  gracious  prefence  ;  and  fince  are  faid  to  be  tutth' 
cut  him  in  the  ivorld  :  nay,  in  all  men,  at  age,  here  is 
fnppoftd,  not  only  a  diftance,  but  alfo  a  contiary 
motion.  When  Chriji  comes  with  regenerating,  fav- 
ing grace,  he  finds  no  m.an  fitting  ftill,  but  all  port- 
ing to  eternal  ruin  ;  till,  by  convi6tion,  he  firft  brings 
them  to  a  ftand,  and  by  converfion,  turns  firfl  their 
hearts,  and  then  their  lives,  to  himfelf. 

B  4.  Here 


14       The  Saints  EverlaPJng  Rejl, 

4.  Here  is  pre-fuppofcd  the  knowledge  of  the  tree 
tiltiinatc  end  and  its  excellency  ;  and  a  ferious  in- 
tending it.  For  fo  the  motion  of  the  rational  crea- 
ture proccedtih  :  an  unknown  tnd,  is  iio  end  ;  it  is  a 
contradidion.  We  cannot  make  that  onr  end,  which 
^ve  know  not  ;  nor  that  our  chief  end  which  we  know 
not,  or  judge  not  to  be  the  chief  good.  Therefore 
where  this  is  not  known,  that  God  is  this  end  ;  there 
is  no  obtaining  reft  in  any  ordin-riry  way,  whatfocver 
iriay.bc  in  ways  that  by  God  are  kept  fecret. 

5.  Here  is  prefnppofed,  not  only  a  diflance  from 
this  reft,  but  alfo  the  true  knov.-ltdge  of  this  dillance. 
If  a  man  have  ioft  his  way,  and  know  it  not,  he  feeks 
not  to  return  :  therefore  ths^y  that  never  knew  they 
were  without  God,  never  yet  enjoyed  him  ;  and  they 
that  never  knew  they  were  a£lually  in  the  way  to  hell, 
did  never  yet  know  the  way  to  heaven  :  nay,  there 
will  not  only  be  a  knowledge  of  this  dlftance,  and  loft 
ellate,  but  affections  anfwerablc.  Can  a  man  find 
Iiirafelf  on  the  brink  of  licll,  and  not  tremble  ?  Or 
iind  he  hath  loft  his  Gop,-  and  his  foul,  and  not  cry- 
out,  /  am  undone  I 

6.  Here  is  alfo  pre-fuppofcd,  a  fupeiior  moving 
caufe,  elfe  fhoukl  we  all  It  and  ft  ill,  and  not  move  a 
fiep  forward  toward  our  reft  ;  no  more  than  the  infe- 
rior wheels  in  the  watch  would  ftir,  if  you  take  away 
the  fpring,  or  the  firft  mover.  This  is  God.  If 
God  move  us  not,  we  cannot  move.  i'hercforc  it  is 
a  raoft  necefiary  part  of  our  chriftlan  wifJom,  to  keep 
our  fubordination  to  God,  and  dependance  on  him  ;  , 
to  be  ftill  in  the  path  where  he  walks,  and  in  that  way 
where  his  Spirit  doth  moft  ulually  move. 

7.  Here  Is  pre  fuppofed,  an  internal  principle  of 
life  in  tlte  pei-fon.  God  moves  not  ;n:in  like  a  ftone, 
but  by  enduing  him  firil  wilh  life,  ^not  10  enable  iiim 

to 


The  Saints  Evcrlaftlng  Reji,       1 5 

to  move  wfthout  God,  but)  tlicreby  to  qualify  him 
to  move  himfelf,  in  fubordination  to  God,  the  firit 
mover. 

8.  Here  is  pre-fuppoRd  alfo,  fuch  a  motion  a^  is 
rightly  ordered  and  directed  toward  the  end.  Nut  all 
motion  or  labour  brings  to  red.  Every  way  leads  not 
to  \.h\i  end  ;  but  he  whofe  goodnefs  hath  appointed 
the  end,  hath  in  his  wifdom,  and  by  his  fovereimi 
authority,  appointed  the  way.  ChriJ}  is  the  door,  the 
only  way  to  this  reft.  Some  will  allow  notiiin^  elic 
to  be  called  the  way,  left  it  derogate  from  Chri  t:  The 
truth  Is,  Ch'iil  is  the  only  way  to  the  Father:  yet 
Jaith  is  the  way  to  Cbrifl  ;  and  gofpel-obedience,  or 
faith  and  works,  tlie  way  for  thofc  to  v/alk.  in,  that  arc 
i-i  Chryi. 

9.  There  is  ruppoftd  alfo,  a  flrong  and  conHant 
motion,  which  may  reach  the  end.  'I'iie  lazy  wcrld, 
that  think  all  too  much,  will  tind  this  to  their  col- 
one  day  :  they  that  think  lefs  ado  might  have  fcrved, 
•do  but  reproach  Chr'iji  fot  making  us  fo  much  to  do. 
They  that  have  been  moft  holy,  watchful,  painful  to 
get  to  heaven,  find,  when  they  come  to  die,  all  too 
little  :  we  fee  daily  the  bed  chriftians,  when  dying, 
repent  their  negligence  :  I  never  knew  any  then  repent 
his  holinefs  and  diligence.  It  would  grieve  a  man's 
foul  to  fee  a  multitude  of  millaken  finners  lay  out  their 
care  and  pains  for  a  thing  of  nought,  and  think  to 
have  eternal  falvation  with  a  wifh,  If  the  way  to 
heaven  be  not  far  harder  than  the  world  imagines, 
Chnjl  and  his  apoflits  knew  not  the  way  :  for,  tliey 
have  told  us.  That  the  kingdom  of  heaven  [it^creih_  vie- 
lence  ;  that  the  gate  is  Jlralty  and  the  ivay  narroiu  ;  and 
ive  mujl  Jirive,  if  tvs  will  enter  ;  for  many  f mil  feek  to 
enter,  and  riit  he  able,  (wiiich  implies,  the  faintnefs 
of  their  fceking,  and  that  they  put  not  ftrength  to 
the  work;)  ^Xid^th^t  the  right  iom  themfehss  an  fcarce'iy 
faved,  I  have 


1 6      The  Saints  Everhi/luig  Rejl. 

I  have  feen  this  dodlrlne  aifo  thrown  by  with  con- 
tempt by  others,  who  fay,  What  !  do  ye  fet  us  a  work- 
ing ^o\-  heaven  ?  Doth  our  duty  do  any  thhig  ?  Hath 
not  Chr'ijl  done  all?  Is  not  tliis  to  make  him  an  half 
Saviour,  and  to  preach  the  law  ? 

ylnf.  It  is  to  preach  the  law  of  ChriJ}  ;  his  fuhje(5ls 
are  not  lavvlefs  ;  it  is  to  preach  duty  to  Ch  ijl.  None 
a  more  exa(fl  requirer  of  duty  or  hater  of  fin,  than 
Chf'if}.  ChtJl\\-dX\\  done,  and  will  do,  all  his  work  ; 
and  therefore  is  a  perie6^  Saviour  :  but  yet  leaves  us 
a  v.'orK  too  :  he  hath  paid  all  the  price,  and  left  U3 
none  to  pay;  yet  lie  never  intended  his  purchafe 
fl^ould  put  us  into  abfolute  title  to  glory,  in  point  of 
law,  much  lefs  into  immediate  pofTeiTion.  He  hath 
purcliafcd  the  crov/n  to  beftow,  only  on  condition  of 
believing,  denying  all  for  hiiii,  fuffering  with  him, 
perfeverin^  and  overcoming.  He  hath  purchafed  juf- 
tiHcation  to  beRow,  only  oa  condition  of  believing^ 
yea,  rcpentini^  and  believing:  though  it  is  Chr'-Jl  that 
enabltth  alfo  to  perform  the  condition.  It  "is  not  a 
faviour  ofFercd,  but  received  alfo,  that  muft  fave  : 
it  is  not  the  blood  of  Chrijl  fhed  only,  but  applied 
alfo,  that  mull  fully  deliver  ;  nor  is  it  applied  to  the 
juUIfication  or  falvation  of  a  fleepy  foul.  Nor  doth 
Chf'jlczriy  us  to  heaven  in  a  chair  of  fecurlty.  Our 
righteoufnefs,  which  the  law  of  wotks  requiicth,  and 
by  which  it  is  fatisfied,  is  wholry  in  Chnjl,  and  not 
one  grain  in  ourfclves  :  nor  muft  we  dare  to  think  of 
patching  up  a  legal  righteoufnefs  of  ChriJI's  and  our 
own  together  ;  that  is,  that  our  doings  can  be  the 
leiift  part  of  iatisfailion  for  our  fins.  But  yet  ourfclves 
r.iiilt  perfonnlly  fulfil  the  conditions  of  the  new  cove- 
liant ;  and  fo  have  the  perfect  evangelical  rlgldeouf- 
ncfs,  or  never  be  favrd  by  Chr'iJl'^  righteoufnefs. 
Then  fur e  fiv  not,  it  is  not  duty,  but  Chriji  ;  for  it  is 
CI  .;y  of  duty.      As  duty  cannot  do  it  with- 

(...'.  .  J  ij  Chn/I  will  not  do  it  without  duty.  ' 

•^  And 


The  Saints  Everlajllng  Refl,       17 

And  as  this  motion  mud  be  (Ircng,  fo  mufl  it  be 
conaant,  or  it  will  fall  (liort  of  reft.  To  begin  in  ;lie 
fpirit,  and  end  in  the  flelh,  will  not  bring  to  the  "end 
of  the  faints.  Men  as  holy  as  the  bell  of  us,  have  fal- 
len off.  Read  but  the  promifes,  B.e'v.  ii.  and  iii.  To 
him  that  overcometb.  ChrijVs  own  difciples  mud  be 
commanded  to  continue  in  his  love,  and  that  by  keep- 
ing his  commandments:  and  to  abide  in  Ir.m,  and  his 
word  in  them,     ^qq  John  xv.  4,  5,  6,  7,  9,  10. 

CHAP.     III. 


■T 


What  this  Reft  conlaliieth. 

HERE  is  contained  in  this  Reft. 


I.  A  ccfiation  from  motion  or  aclion.  Not  from 
:dl  adtion,  but  of  that  which  Implies  the  abfcnce  ot 
the  end.  When  we  have  obtained  the  haven,  we  have 
done  failing  .  when  we  arc  at  our  journey's  end,  we 
have  done  with  the  way.  Therefore  prophefying 
ceafeth,  tongues  fail,  and  knowledge  fliall  be  done 
away  ;  that  is,  fo  far  as  it  was  imperfeft.  There  fliall 
be  no  more  prayer,  becaufe  no  more  necefiity,  bi:t  the 
full  enjoyment  of  what  we  prayed  for.  Neither  TaaU 
wc  need  to  faft,  and  weep  and  watch  any  more,  be- 
ing out  of  the  reach  of  fm  and  temptations.  Nor  w  iU. 
there  be  ufe  for  inftruAions  and  exhortations  :  preach- 
ing is  done  :  the  miniilry  of  man  ceafeth  :  facraments 
ufelefs  :  the  labourers  called  in,  becaufe  the,  harveii  is 
gathered  :  the  unregenerate  pafl  hope,  the  faints  pad 
fear,  for  ever.  Much  lefs  fiiall  there  be  any  need  of 
labouring  for  inferior  ends,  as  here  we  do  ;  feeing 
they  fhall  all  devolve  themfclves  into  the  ocean  of  tne 
ultimate  end,  and  the  lefier  good  be  fwallowed  uf: 
the  grcatcil.  B  2  2.  Tl 


3 


1 8       r/v  S.:irJs  hverlafihig  Rcjl. 

2.  Tills  reft  contalneth  a  perfefl  freedom  from  all 
the  evils  that  accompany  us  through  our  coiirfc,  and 
-Ifhich  nectfiarily  follow  our  abfence  fiom  the  chief 
good  ;  bcfides  our  freedom  fiom  thofe  eternal  flames, 
\vhlch  the  negleclers  of  CbriJ}  muft  endure.  There 
js  no  fuch  a  thing  as  giicf  and  forrow  known  there  : 
nor  Is  there  fuch  a  thing  as  a  pale  face,  a  languid  bo- 
dy, feeble  joints,  unable  infancy,  decripid  age,  pec- 
cant humours,  painful  ficknefs,  griping  fears,  con- 
fuming  caic,  nor  whatfocver  dcferves  the  name  of  evil. 
Indeed  a  gale  of  groans  and  fighs,  a  ftream  of  tears, 
accompnr.icd  us  to  the  very  gates,  and  there  bid  us 
farewell  for  ever.  //V  did  iveep  (mJ  lament ,  ivben  the 
'wo'ld did  rrj.ic.  'f  hut  our  fcrro-iv  is  turned  into  joy^  and 
ou-  jcy  f(j..:l  no  man  take  from  us, 

3.  This  reft  contalneth  the  higheft  degree  of  per- 
fection, both  of  foul  and  body^  This  qualifies  them 
to  enjoy  tlic  glory,  and  thoroughly  to  partake  the 
fv^'eclIlefs  of  it.  Were  the  glory  never  fo  great,  and 
themfelvcs  not  made  capable  of  it,  it  would  be  little" 
to  them.  But  the  more  perfeft  the  appetite,  the  fweet- 
er  the  food.  The  more  muiical  ihe  car,  the  more 
pleafant  the  melody.  The  more  perftft  the  foul,  the 
niorejoyous  thofe  joys,  and  the  more  glorious  is  that 
glory.  Nor  is  it  only  finful  imperfedion  that  is  re- 
moved, nor  only  that  which  is  the  fruit  of  fin,  but 
that  which  adhered  to  us  in  our  pure  nature.  There 
is  far  more  procured  by  Chrijl^  than  was  loft  by  Adam. 
It  is  the  mifery  of  wicked  men  here,  that  all  without 
them  is  mercy,  but  within  them  an  heart  full  of  fin, 
fhuts  the  door  againft  all,  and  makes  them  but  the 
mqre  miferable.  When  all  is  well  within,  then  all  is 
well  indeed.  Therefore  will  God,  as  a  fpecial  part 
of  liis  faints  happliicfy;  pcifect  themfelvcs  as  well  as 
their  CQfidition. 

A,  This 


The  Saints  EverLiJIlng  Refl,       1 9 

4..  This  refl  containeth,  as  the  principal  patt,  our 
neareil  fruition  of  God.  As  all  good  whatfoevei  is 
coinprifcd  in  God,  and  all  in  the  creature  are  but 
drops  of  this  ocean  ;  fo  all  the  glory  of  the  bleflcd  is 
compiifed  in  thcM*r  enjoyment  of  God:  and  if  there 
be  any  mediate  joys  there,  they  are  but  drops  from 
this.  If  men  and  angtls  fliould  lludy  to  fpeak  the 
blefiednefs  of  that  e.iate,  in  one  word,  what  can  they 
fay  beyond  this,  Th;it  it  is  the  ncareft  enjoyment  of 
God  ?  Say,  they  have  God  ;  and  you  fay,  they  have 
all  that  is  wortii  the  having.  O  the  full  joys  offered 
to  a  believer  In  that  one  fentence  of  C/jrijVs\  I  would 
not  for  all  the  world  that  verfe  had  been  left  out  of 
the  bible  ;  Faths'-,  I  ivill,  th.t  thofe  nvkom  thou  hyt 
given  Me^  h£  iv'uh  me  iiihere  I  am,  that  they .  may  bc' 
hold  tny  glory,  nxh'ich  thou  haft  given  m.",  John  xvii.  24. 
Every  word  is  full  of  life  and  joy.  If  the  queen  of 
Shch.i  had  caufe  to  fay  of  Solomon'^  g^cy,  Happy  art 
thy  m^riy  hoppy  are  theje  thy  Jervnnls  thc4  ftand  co/Ainu- 
ally  before  thee^  and  thai  hear  thy  v/ijdom- ;  then  fure 
thty  that  ftand  continually  before  God,  and  fee  his 
glory,  and  the  glory  of  the  Lamb,  are  fomewhat  more 
tlian  happy  ;  to  them  will  Christ  ^/vf  to  eat  cf  il:e 
Irceot  itfe,  ixhick  is  in  ths  'inldjl  of  the  paradife  cf  CjiiHy 
Rev.  il.  7. 

5.  This  reft  containeth  a  fweet  and  conf^ant  a<?^Ion 
of  all  the  powers  of  the  foul  and  body  In  this  fruition 
of  God.  But  great  will  the  change  of  our  JDodies  and 
fenfes  be,  even  fo  great,  as  now  we  cannot  conceive. 
If  grace  makes  a  chrilllan  difTer  fo  much  from  what 
he  was,  that  the  chriftlan  could  fay  to  his  companion,, 
Ego  nonjum  ego  :  I  am  net  the  m  n  I  11  at  ;  how  much 
more  will  glory  make  us  differ  ?  We  m.ay  then  fay 
much  more.  This  is  not  the  body  I  had,  and  thefe  are 
not  the  fenfes  I  had.  Ytt  becaufe  we  have  no  other 
name  for  them,  let  us  call  them  fenfes;  call  them  eyes 
and  ears,   fseing  u.nd   hearing  ;  but  coiictive,  that  as 

much 


io       The  Saints  Everlo. fling  Re/I. 

much  as  a  body  fpl ritual,  above  the  fun  in  glory,  cx» 
ceedeth  thefe  frail,  noifome,  difcafed  lumps  of  flcfh, 
that  we  now  carry  about  us  ;  fo  far  rtiall  our  fenfes  of 
feeing  and  hearing  exceed  thefe  we  now  pofTefs  :  for 
the  change  of  the  fenfes  muft  be  conceived  proportion- 
able to  the  change  ox  the  body.  And  doubtlcfs  as 
God  advanceth  oar  fenfe,  and  enlargeth  our  capacity  ; 
fo  will  He  advance  the  happinefs  of  thofe  fenfes,  and 
fill  up  with  himfelf  all  tiiat  capacity.  And  certainly 
the  body  fhould  not  be  raifed  up,  if  it  fhould  not 
fhare  in  the  glory :  for  as  it  hath  fhared  in  the  obe- 
dience and  fuiTerlngs,  fo  fndl  it  alfo  do  in  the  blef- 
fednefs ;  and  as  Chrijl  bought  tlie  whole  man,  fo  fhall 
the  whole  partake  of  the  everlalllng  benefits  of  the 
purchafe. 

And  if  the  body  fnall  be  thus  employed,  O  how 
fhal!  the  foul  be  taken  up  !  As  its  powers  and  capaci- 
ties are  greatcft,  fo  its  aAIons  are  fttongcR,  and  its 
enjoyments  fweeteft.  As  the  bodily  fcufes.have  their 
proper  aptitude  and  aftlon,  whereby  they  receive  and 
enjoy  their  objects  ;  fo  doth  the  foul  in  its  own  alli- 
en, enjoy  its  own  objeft  :  by  knowing,  by  thinking, 
^lid  remembering,  by  loving,  and  by  delightful  joy- 
ing :  by  thefe  eyes  it  fees,  and  by  thefe  arms  it  em- 
braccth.  If  it  might  be  faid  of  the  difciples  with 
Chrijl  on  earthj  much  more  that  behold  him  in  his 
glory,  BkJJ'td  are  the  eyes  that  fee  the  ihinys  that  you  fee^ 
and  the  ean  that  hcjr  the  things  th  t  you  hea<  :  for  many 
princes  and  great  ones  boVt  dtfi  ed  ( a, id  hoped)  to  Jrt  the 
things  that  you  fee,  and  have  not  fee  a  them,  z^c.  Matt, 
xlil.  16,  17. 

Knowledge  of  itfelf  is  very  defirable.  As  ii^r  as  t^e 
rational  foul  exceeds  the  fenfitlve,  fo  far  the  c'  -'({ht* 
of  a  philofopher,  in  difcovering  the  fecrets  c^  tnt^ 
and  knowing  the  myftery  of  fcicnces,  exceed.-  •  >  de- 
lights of  the  glutton,  the  drunkard,  and  of  all  volup- 
tuous 


The  Saints  Everlafiing  Refl,      21 

tuouG  fenrualifts  whatfoever  ;  lo  excellent  is  all  truth. 
Wl)at  then  is  their  delight,  who  know  the  God  of 
tnith  ?  What  would  I  not  %l'^'^^  fo  that  all  the  uncer- 
tain principles  in  logic,  natural  philofophy,  metaphy- 
fic8,  and  medicine,  were  but  ce;  tain  ?  And  that  my 
dull,  obfcure  notions  of  them,  were  but  quick  ai  d 
clear  ?  O  what  then  would  I  not  perform,  or  part  with, 
to  enjoy  a  clear  and  true  apprchenfion  of  the  mod  true 
God  !  How  noble  a  faculty  of  the  foul  is  the  undtr- 
llandlng  !  (t  can  compafs  the  earth  ;  it  can  meafurc 
the  fun,  moon,  ftars,  and  heaven  ;  it  can  foreknow 
each  ecl'pfe  to  a  minute,  many  years  before  :  yea  but 
this  is  the  top  of  all  its  excellency,  it  can  know  God,. 
who  is  infinite,  who  made  all  tliefe  ;  a  little  here, 
and  much  more  hereafter.  O  the  wifdom  and  good- 
nefs  of  our  blefied  Lord  !  he  hath  created  the  under- 
ftanding  with  a  natural  bias  to  truth,  and  its  ohjt'd  ; 
and  to  the  prime  truth  as  its  prime  objedi  :  and  left 
we  (hould  turn  afide  to  any  creature^  he  hath  kept 
this  as  his  own  divine  prerogative,  not  communicable 
to  any  creature,  viz.  to  be  the  prime  truth. 

Didd  thou  never  look  fo  long  upon  the  Son  of  God, 
till  thine  eyes  were  dazzled  with  his  aftonifhing  ^\o' 
ry  ?  and  did  not  the  fplendor  of  it  make  all  thincrs 
below  feeni  black  and  dark  to  thee,  when  tho'i  l^ok- 
edd  down  again,  efpecially  in  the  days  of  fdffering 
for  Chr'ijl  (when  he  ufually  appears  mod  maiiifedly  to 
his  people  ?)  didd  thou  never  fee  o-ie  fwill'ing  in  the 
midji  of  the  fiery  furnace  ^i  ith  thee,  like  the  Son  of  God  ? 
If  thou  know  him,  vahie  him  ss  thy  life,  and  follow 
on  to  know  him  ;  and  thou  fhalt  ksow  incomparably 
more  than  this.  Or  if  I  do  but  renew  thy  grief,  to 
tell  thee  what  thou  once  didd  feel,  but  now  had  lod  ; 
I  counfel  thee  to  remrmher  ivhen  e  thou  art  fall er;^  ni 
repent,  and  do  the Jifi  Ivor's,  rnd  be  ii^  tchfuly  and 
frengthen  the  thinys  nvhich  remain  ;  and  I  dare  promife 
thee,   (becaufe  God  hath  promifedj  thou  iTialt  fee  ind 

know 


2  2       The  Saints  Everhijling  Reji, 

know  that  which  here  thine  eye  could  not  fee,  nor 
tiiy  underitanding  conceive.  Believe  me,  chfiftians, 
yea,  bclitve  God;  you  that  have  known  moft  of 
God  in  C/'  //?  here,  it  is  notliing  to  that  you  fliall 
know  ;  it  fcarce,  in  comparifon  of  that,  deferves  to 
"be  called  knowledge.  i  he  difference  betwixt  our 
knowledge  now,  and  our  knowledp^e  then,  will  be  as 
gr<;at  as  that  between  ourflefhly  bodies  now,  and  our 
fpiritual  bodies  then.  For  as  thefe  bodies,  fo  that 
knowledge  rauil  ceafe,  tliat  a  more  perfeft  may  fuc- 
ceed.  Our  filly  childifh  thoughts  of  God,  which 
now  is  the  higheft  we  can  reach  to,  muft  give  place 
to  a  move  manly  knowledge. 

Marvel  not,  therefore,  how  it  can  be  life  eternal  to 
Inoiv  L'od  ..nd  his  Son  Jefus  Chrifl  :  to  enjoy  God 
and  his  Chrif.  is  et-ernal  life,  and  tl-e  foul's  enjoying 
13  in  knowing.  They  that  favour  only  of  earth,  and 
have  no  way  to  judge  but  by  fenfe,  and  never  were 
acquainted  with  this  knowledge  of  God,  think  it  a 
poor  happinefs  to  know  God.  Let  them  have  health 
and  wealth,  and  worldly  delights,  and  take  you  the 
other.  Alas,  poor  men  !  they  that  have  made  trial 
of  both,  do  not  envy  your  happinefs  :  O  that  you 
would  come  near,  and  tafte  and  try  as  they  have  done, 
and  then  judge  ;  then  continue  in  your  former  mind, 
if  you  can.  For  our  parts  we  fay  with  that  knowing 
apufUe,  (though  the  fpeech  may  feem  prefumptuous) 
I  yohnx.  19,  20.  IVe  know  that  zvs  are  o/GoT).,  ar.d 
the  whole  ivorld  I'leth  in  iulke:hiefs  :  and  ice  knozo  that 
the  Son  of  God  is  come,  and  hath  given  us  an  underfland- 
ingf  thut  nvc  may  know  htm  that  is  true  ;  and  ii-e  are  in 
Um  :h  It  is  truei  in  his  Son  Jefus  Chrift  :  this  is  the  true 
God  and  eternal  life.  The  Son  of  God  is  come  to  be 
our  head  and  fountain  of  life,  ai:d  hath  given  vs  on 
KKderfUrding,  that  the  foul  may  be  made  capable  to 
know  him  (GoD;  that  is  true^  the  prime  truth  ;  fMd 
m£  are  brought   fo  near  to    this   enjoyment,  that  ive 


The  Saints  Everlajihig  Rejl.      2  j 

are  in  him  that  it  true  ;  we  are  in  him,  by  beinp^  in  hit 
Son  Jefus  Chrifl:  :  this  is  the  true  G^  J,  and  lb  the  fitrtfl 
objedl  for  our  underflanding,  arul  this  knowing  of 
him,  and  being  in  him,  in  Ghiifl,  is  eternal  fife. 

And  donbtlefs  the  memory  will  not  be  idle  in  this 
blefkd  work.  If  it  be  bat  by  looking  back,  to  hcip 
the  foul  to  value  its  enjoyment.  Our  knowledge  will 
be  enlarged,  not  diminifhed  ;  therefore  tlie  know- 
ledge of  things  pad  (hail  not  be  taken  away.  From 
that  height  the  faint  can  look  behind  him  and  before 
him  :  and  to  compare  pad  with  prefcnt  things,  mull 
needs  raife  in  the  bleffed  foul  an  unconceivable  fenfe 
of  its  condition.  To  ftand  on  that  mount,  whence 
we  can  fee  the  wlldernefs  and  Canaan  botli  at  onrc  ; 
to  Hand  in  htaven,  and  look  back  on  earth,  and  wei;ih 
them  together  in  the  balance,  how  mull  it  tranfport 
the  foul,  and  make  It  cry  out.  Is  this  the  purchafe 
that  coll  fo  dear  as  the  blood  of  God?  O  bleflVd  price, 
and  thrice  blefled  love  1  Is  this  the  end  of  believing? 
is  this  the  end  of  the  Spirit's  workings  ?  have  the 
galea  of  grace  blown  me  into  fuch  an  harbour  ?  is  it 
hither  tlia:  Chri/i  hath  inticed  my  foul  ?  O  blefled 
way,  and  thrice  blefled  end  !  Is  thistlie  glory  which 
the  fcriptures  fpoke  of,  and  miniflers  preached  of  fo 
much  ?  Now  I  fee  the  gofpel  indeed  is  good  tidinprs, 
even  tidi^igs  cf  great  joy  to  ■If  n  fio  s  !  Is  my  m.ourn- 
ing,  my  fading,  my  heavy  waljfing,  groanings,  com- 
plainings, come  to  this  ?  Are  all  my  afilidions  and 
fears,  a  1  Satan's  temptations  and  the  world's  fcorns, 
coT^e  to  this  .^  O  vile  nature,  that  relided  fuch  a 
blefling  !  Unworthy  foul !  is  this  the  place  thou  camefl: 
fo  unvvilling  to  ?  was  the  world  too  good  to  lofe  I 
didd  thou  flick  at  leaving  all,  denying  all,  and  fuf- 
ferinor  any  thing  for  this  ?  O  falfe  heart  !  that  had 
alinod  betrayed  me  to  eternal  flames,  and  lod  me  this 
glory  !  O  l)a!''  flefli  !  that  wmild  needs  have  been 
pleafed,  though  ;o  the  lofs  of  this  felicity  !  didd  thou 

make 


24     The  Saints  Everlnjling  Rejl. 

make  me  to  queftlon  tlie  truth  of  tlils  glory  ?  didfl: 
thou  diaw  me  to  dlibiirt  the  Lord  ?  My  Ibul,  art 
thou  not  afiiamcd  that  ever  thou  didll  qu<nion  that 
love  tlia>=  hath  brought  thee  hither?  that  thou  wall 
jealous  of  the  faithfuhicfs  of  thy  Lord  ?  that  thou 
fufpediedd  his  love,  when  thou  rtiouldil  have  only 
fufptftcd  thyfclf  ?  that  thou  did[t  not  live  continu- 
ally tranfported  with  thy  Saviour's  love  ?  and  that 
ever  thou  quenchedil  a  motion  of  his  fpirit  ?  art  thou 
not  afliamed  of  ail  thy  hard  thoughts  of  fuch  a  God? 
of  all  thy  mif-interpreting  thofe  piovidences,  and  re- 
pining at  thofe  ways  that  have  fuch  an  end  ?  Now 
thou  art  convinced  that  the  ways  thou  calledfl:  hard, 
and  the  cup  thou  calledft  bitter,  were  neceffary  :  that 
tliy  Lord  meant  thee  better  than  thou  wouldll  be- 
lieve :  and  that  thy  Redeemer  was  faving  thee,  as 
well  when  he  crofled  thy  defires,  as  when  he  granted 
them  ;  as  well  when  he  broke  thy  heart,  as  when  he 
bound  it  up.  No  thanks  to  thee,  for  this  crown  j  but 
io  Jehovah  andihe  Lumhjor  ever. 

Thus,  as  the  memory  of  the  wicked  will  eternally 
promote  their  torment,  to  look  back  on  the  fin  com- 
mitted, the  grace  refufed,  Chr'ijl  negletted,  and  time 
lod  :  fo  will  the  memory  of  the  faints  for  ever  pro- 
mote their  joys. 

Eut  O  the  full,  the  near,  the  fweet  enjoyment,  is 
that  of  the  afft6lions,  love  and  joy:  it  is  near,  for 
love  is  the  effence  of  the  foul,  and  love  is  the  effence 
of  God.  God  u  love,  and  he  ih.J  diveUeth  in  love 
dweileth  in  God,  a;.d  God  in  hivu  The  adding  of 
this  affed^ion  wherefoevcr,  carrieth  much  delight  with 
:t ;  efpecially  when  the  object  appears  dcferviwg,  and 
the  affcdtlon  is  flrong.  But  what  will  it  be,  when 
perfed  affediions  fliall  have  the  ftrongtO:.  perfed  a6l- 
sng  upon  the  mod  perfeft  object  ?  Now  the  poor  foul 
complains;  O  that  I  could   live   Ckriji  more  !    but  I 

cannot, 


The  Saints  Everlajling  Reji,      25 

cannot,  alas,  I  cannot:  yea,  but  then  thou  canfl  not 
choofe  but  love  him  ;  I  had  almoll  fald.  foibtar  if 
thou  cand.  Now  thou  knowefl  little  of  his  amiable- 
nefs,  and  therefore  loved  little  ;  then  thitie  eye  will 
aiTeft  thy  heart,  a-id  the  continual  viewing  of  that 
perfect  beauty,  will  keep  thee  in  continual  ravirtiments 
of  love.  Now  thy  falvation  is  not  perfcded,  nor  all 
the  mercies  purchaftd,  yet  given  in  :  but  when  the 
topflone  is  fet  on^  th  u  fkalt  iv'ith  JJooutl gs  c  y  gr  ce, 
grace.  Chriftians,  doth  it  now  ftir  up  your  love,  to 
reniember  all  the  experiences  of  his  love  ;  to  look 
back  upon  a  life  of  mercies  ?  doih  not  kindnefs  melt 
you  ?  and  the  funfiiine  ©f  divine  goodntfs  warm  your 
frozen  hearts?  What  will  it  do  then,  when  yon  fliall 
live  in  love,  and  have  all  in  him,  who  is  all?  O  the 
high  delig'its  of  love  !  of  this  love  !  the  content  that 
the  heart  findvth  in  it  !  the  fatisfadi-.m  it  brings  along 
with  it  !   furely  love  is  both  work  and  wages. 

And  if  this  were  all,  v^^hat  a  high  favour,  that  Goi> 
will  gwQ  us  leave  to  love  him  !  that  he  will  vouchfafe 
to  be  embraced  by  fuch  arms  that  have  embraced  fm 
before  him  !  But  this  is  not  all,  he  returneth  love  for 
love  :  nay,  a  thoufand  times  more,  as  pcrfcft  as  v^ 
(hall  be,  we  cannot  reach  Ins  mcafure  of  love  :  c; 
tian,  thou  wilt  then  be  b' inful  of  love  ;  yet  1  •  as 
much  as  thou  canft,  thou  fhalt  be  ten  thoufaiui  ^jes 
more  beloved.  Doft  thor.  think  thou  can«  ov-.  =  iove 
him  ?  what,  love  more  than  love  itfolf !  wer "  the 
arms  of  the  Son  of  God  open  upon  the  crofs,  end  am 
open  pafTage  made  to  his  hcait  by  the  fpear  ?  and  will 
not  arms  and  heart  be  open  to  thee  in  glor)  ?  .lid  he 
begin  to  love  befoie  thou  lovedft,  and  will  he  nc:  con- 
tinue now  ?  did  he  love  thee  an  enemy  ?  thee  a  finner? 
thee  who  even  loathcdft  tbyfelf  ?  and  own  tl-^c  when 
thou  didil  difclaim  thyfelf  ?  and  will  he  nor  mvv  un- 
meafurably  love  thee  a  fon  ?  thee  a  perfed  fai.r  ?  thee 
¥/ho  returncftlove  for  love  ?  thoti  wall  wont  ir./.rio.;f- 

c  V 


26     The  Sahits  Everlafling  Rejl. 

ly  to  queftion  his  love  :  doubt  of  it  now  if  thou  canft. 
As  the  pains  of  hell  will  convince  the  rebellioud  fin- 
ner  of  God's  wrath,  who  would  never  before  behevc 
it  :  fo  the  joys  of  heaven  will  convince  thee  through- 
ly of  that  love  which  thou  wouldll  fo  hardly  be  per- 
fuadc'd  of.  He  that  in  love  wept  over  the  old  Jerufa' 
hm  near  her  ruins;  with  what  love  will  he  rejoice 
over  the  new  Jtrufulem  in  her  glory  ?  Methinks  I  fee 
liiiu  groaning  and  weeping  over  dead  Lazarus ^  till  he 
forced  the  Jews  that  Hood  by  to  fay,  Behold  hotu  he 
loved  him!  Will  he  not  then  much  more  by  rejoicing, 
over  us,  make  all  (even  the  damned,  if  they  fee  it) 
fay,  behddhoiu  he  lovdh  ihem  ! 

Here  is  the  heaven  of  heaven  J  thefruition  of  God  : 
in  thefc  mutual  embracements  of  love,  doth  it  confift. 
To  love,  and  be  beloved  :  1  hc/e  are  the  everlajiiwg 
arms  that  are  undcrneoth :  his  left  hand  is  under  their 
heads,  and  ivith  his  right  hand  doth  he  embrace  ihem. 

Stop  here  and  think  a  while  what  a  flate  this  if. 
Is  it  a  fmall  thing  to  be  beloved  of  God?  to  be  the 
foil,  the  fpoufe,  the  love,  the  delight  of  the  King  of 
glory  ?  Believe  this,  and  think  on  it :  thou  fhalt  be 
eternally  embraced  in  the  arms  of  that  love,  which  was 
from  everlafting  and  will  extend  to  evtrlalting  ;  of  that 
love,  which  bt  ought  the  Son  of  God's  love  from  hea- 
ven to  earth,  from  earth  to  the  crofs,  from  the  crofs 
to  the  grave,  from  the  grave  to  glory  ;  that  love, 
which  v/as  weary,  hungry,  tempted,  fcorned,  fcourg- 
ed,  buffeted,  fpit  upon,  crucified,  pierced ;  which 
did  fa  ft,  pray,  teach,  heal,  weep,  fweat,  bleed,  die.: 
that  love  will  eternally  embrace  them.  When  perfedl 
created  love,  and  moll  perfect  uncreated  love  pieet  to- 
gether, O  the  blefTcd  meeting  !  It  will  not  be  like  Jo- 
Jt-ph  and  his  brethern,  who  lay  upon  one  another's  necks 
■weeping  ;  it  will  break  forth  into  pure  joy  ;  not  a  mix- 
ture of  joy  and  foirow  ;  it  will  be  loving  and  rejoicing, 

not 


The  Saints  Kverlafting  Reft.      27 

not  loving  and  forrowing  :  yet  will  it  make  Fh  raoPt 
(S  van's)  court  to  ring,  with  tht-  news  that  jfifeph^s 
brethren  are  come  ;  that  the  faints  are  arrived  fafe  at 
the  bofom  of  Chriji,  out  of  the  reach  of  hell  for  ever. 

And  now  are  we  not  left  in  the  apoflle's  admiration  ? 
tvhai  Jhall  ive  Jay  to  thife  fhv:gs  ?  Infinite  love  mull 
needs  be  a  myftery  to  a  finite  capacity.  No  wonder, 
if  angels  defire  to  pry  into  the  myitery  ;  and  if  it  be 
the  Ihidy  of  the  faints  here,  to  kno">i>  the  hei^hth  and 
b^eaflthf  and  length ^  and  depth  of  this  love^-  thnu  Jo  if 
p-'Jfcth  knovuledge :  this  is  the  faints  rcll  in  the  fruition 
of  God  by  love. 

Lajlly,  The  affedion  of  joy  hath  not  the  lead  fiiare 
in  this  fruition.  The  inconceivable  complacency 
which  the  blefftd  feel  in  their  feeing,  knowing,  lov- 
ing, and  being  beloved  of  God.  The  delight  of  the 
fenfes  here,  cannot  be  known  by  exprtllions,  as  they 
are  felt-:  how  much  lefs  this  joy?  Th's  is  the  zch'ite 
Jlone,  "johkh  none  knowcth  but  he  th':t  rert'i'ucfh:  and  if 
there  be  any  joy  which  the  fti anger  meddleth  not  with, 
then  fiirely  this,  above  all,  is  it  All  Chrijl's  ways 
of  mercy  tend  to,  and  end  in  the  faints  joys.  He 
wept,  fonowed,  fuffered,  that  they  might  rejoice  : 
he  fendeth  the  fpii  it  to  be  their  comforter  :  he  multi- 
plieth  promifcs,  he  difcovers  their  future  happinefs, 
that  their  joy  might  be  full  ;  he  aboundeth  to  them  in 
mercies  of  all  forts  :  he  maketh  them  lie  doivn  tn  green 
pn/lurest  a>'.d  leadeth  t^-em  hy  thejltllivaters  ;  yea,  open- 
eth  to  them  the  fountain  of  living  waters,  thut  their  joy 
may  he  fill,  that  they  may  thirjl  no  more,  and  that  it 
truy  Ipring  up  in  them  to  eVirlaJliny  life:  he  caufeth 
them  to  fufFer,  that  he  may  caufe  them  to  rejoice  ; 
and  chafteneth  them,  that  he  may  give  them  reft  ; 
and  maketh  them  (as  he  did  himfelf  to  drink  of 
the  brook  in  the  -ivay,  that  they  may  lift  up  the  head, 
Pfalm  ex.  7.     And  left  after  all  this  they  Ihould  ne- 

gled 


28     The  Saints  Everlq/ihg  Reft. 

gleet  their  own  comforts,  he  maketh  it  their  duty, 
commaBding  them  to  rejoice  in  him  alivay.  And  he 
never  brings  them  into  fo  low  a  condition,  wherein 
he  leaves  them  not  more  caufeof  joy  than  of  forrow. 
And  hith  the  Lord  fuch  a  care  for  us  heie  j  where, 
the  bridegroom  being  frona  us,  we  mud  mourn  ?  O  ! 
what  will  that  joy  be,  where,  the  foul  being  perfe6l- 
ly  prepared  for  joy,  and  joy  prepared  by  Chrill  for 
the  foul,  it  (hall  be  our  work,  our  bufinefs  eternally 


And  it  feems  the  faints  joy  fhall  be  greater  than  .^ic 
damned's  torment  :  for  th^ii  torment  is  the  torment 
of  creatures,  prepared  for  (he  devil  and  his  ar.geh  :  but 
our  joy  is  the  joy  of  our  Lord,  even  our  Lord's  own 
joy  r4i?.ll  we  enter.  And  the  fame  <^Iory  ii-hich  the  Fa^ 
$'  er  giveth  hlmy  doth  the  Son  give  them,  John  xvii.  22. 
And  to  fii.  down  Tvith  him  in  his  ihtone,  even  a^s  he  is  Jet 
/Jcion  inh'ti  F.!(h.'>*s  ihrunef  Rev.  iii.  2  1.  Thoti  that 
now  fptndcll;  thy  days  in  ffirrow,  who  knowcA  no, 
g-Ai-ments  but  fackcloth,  no  food  but  the  bread  and 
water  of  afllicilons,  what  fayeft  thou  to  this  great 
change  ?  from  all  forrow  to  more  than  all  joy  ?  Thou 
poor  foul,  who  prayeft  for  joy,  complained  for  want 
of  joy,  then  thou  {halt  have  full  joy,  as  much  as  thou 
caiitl  hold,  and  more  than  ever  thou  tboughted  on,  or 
thy  heart  de fired. 

And  in  the  meantime  walk  carefully,  watch  con- 
flantly,  and  then  let  God  meafure  out  thy  times  and 
degrees  of  joy.  It  may  be  he  keeps  them  till  thou 
had  more  need  ;  thou  mayft  better  lofe  thy  comfort, 
than  thy  fafety  :  as  the  joy  of  the  hypocrite,  fo  the 
fears  of  the  upriglu,  ate  but  for  a  moment.  Weeping 
miy  iii.-ure  for  a  nighty  but  joy  cometh  in  the  morning, 
O  blelTed  morning  !  Poor  drooping  foul,  how  would, 
it  fill  thee  with  joy  now,  if  a  voice  ftom  heaven  dioul4 
aiTure  ihee  of  thy  part  in  thefe  joys  !   What  then  will 

thy 


The  Saints  Everlajllng  Rejl,      29 

thy  joy  be,  when  thy  adlual  pofltffion  Hiall  convince 
thee  of  thy  title  :  when  the  angels  (hall  bring  thee  to 
Chrifly  and  when  Chnjl  fliall  (as  it  were)  take  thee  by 
the  hand,  and  had  thee  into  thy  purchafcd  pofTchion  I 
"Wilt  thou  not  be  almod  ready  to  draw  back,  and  to 
fay,  What  f,  Lord,  I,  the  unworthy  neglectcr  of  thy 
grace  !  1,  the  unworthy  difelleemer  of  thy  blood,  and 
fjighter  of  thy  love  !  Muft  1  have  this  glory  ?  Alake 
me  an  hleJ  fer-uant^  I  am  no  more  ivorthy  lo  he  called  a 
Jon  :  but  love  will  have  It  fo  j  therefore  thou  mull  en- 
ter into  his  joy. 

Arid  it  is  not  thy  joy  only  :  it  is  a  mutual  joy,  as 
^*ell  as  mutual  love  :  is  there  fuch  joy  in  heaven  at 
thy  converfion,  and  will  there  be  none  at  thy  glorifica- 
tion ?  Will  not  the  angels  welcome  thee  thither,  and 
congratulate  thy  fafeariival?  Yea,  it  is  the  joy  of 
Jejus  ChnJl :  for  now  he  hath  the  end  of  his  labour, 
fuffering,  dying,  when  we  have  our  joys;  ivhen  he  is 
^hr'ijied  in  his  Jaints,  and  admired  in  all  them  that  believe. 
IVe  are  his  feed,  and  the  fruit  of  his  fouVs  travnily  fwhifb 
nuhen  hefeeth,  he  nvil!  be  futisjled i  he  will  rejoice  over 
his  purcliafed  inheritance,  and  his  people  fhall  rejoice 
in  him. 

Yea,  the  Father  himfelf  puts  on  joy  too,  in  our 
joy  ;  as  we  grieve  his  fpirit,  and  weary  him  with  our 
iniquities  ;  fo  he  is  rejoiced  in  onrgood.  O  how  quick- 
ly here  doth  he  fpy  a  returning  prodigal,  even  afar  off  ! 
How  di)th  he  run  and  meet  him,  fall  on  his  neck,  and 
kifs  him  !  This  is  indeed  a  happy  meeting  :  but  nC' 
thing  to  thcjoy  of  that  laft  and  great  meeting. 

And  now  look  back  upon  7.11  this  ;  I  fay  to  thee  as 
the  angel  to  Johi,  Wh  t  hajl  thou  feen  ?  Or  if  yet  thou 
perceive  not,  draw  nearer,  come  up  higher,  Cotne  and 
fee:  doll  thou  fear  thou  hall  been  all  this  while  in  n 
dream  ?  Why,  Theje  are  the  iruefayings  o/God.  Do(h 
C  2  thoii 


o 


o      The  Sahits  Everlajling  Reft. 


thou  fear  as  the  difclplcs)  that  thou  haft  feen  but  a 
ghoft  inilead  of  Chr'ijl  ?  a  Ihadow  inllead  of  ti  e  reft  ? 
Come  near,  and  feel  :  a  fliaduw  contains  not  thofe 
fubtlantlal  bleffings,  nor  refts  upon  fuch  a  fure  word 
of  promife,  as  you  have  feen  thefe  do.  Go  thy  way 
now,  and  tell  the  dilciples,  and  tell  the  drooping  fouls 
thou  mceteft  with,  that  ihou  haft,  in  this  glafs,  feen 
heaven  ;  that  the  Lord  indeed  is  rifen,  and  hath  here 
appeared  to  ihee^  and  behold  he  is  gone  before  us  into 
reft  ;  and  that  he  is  no-.v  preparing  a  place  for  them, 
und  will  come  again,  and  take  them  to  himfelf,  that 
<ivk(;re  b:  isf  there  they  may  be  alfo. 

But  alas  !  my  fearful  heart  dares  fcarce  proceed : 
methinks  i  hear  the  Almighty's  voice,  faying  to  me, 
as  to  El'ihuj  job  xxxviii.  2.  IFho  is  this  that  darkeneth 
couv.Jsl by  -words  without  knoixledge  ? 

But  pardon,  O  LoRd,  thy  fervant's  fin  :  I  have 
not  pried  into  unrevealed  things,  nor  curioufly  fearch- 
t'd  into  thy  counfcls  ;  but  indeed  I  have  diftionoured 
thy  holinefs,  wronged  thine  excellency,  difgraced  thy 
faints  glory,  by  my  difproportionable  pourtraying : 
I  will  bewail  from  my  heart  that  my  apprehenfions 
are  fo  dull,  my  thoughts  fo  mean,  my  affefti^ns  fo 
ftupid,  ?.n  1  my  exprcflions  fo  low.  But  I  have  only 
heard  by  tiie  hearing  of  the  ear  ;  O  let  thy  fervant  fee 
thtc  and  poflefs  thefe  joys,  and  then  I  fhall  have 
more  fuitable  conceivings,  and  ftiall  give  thee:  fuller 
glory.  /  haiie  no  ?t;  uttered  that  I  undetjioa^t^ot ; 
things  too  wonderful  for  me,  which  I  hieiu  not.  ^Tet  I 
believed^  and  therefore  fpakr.  Remember  with  whom 
thou  haft  to  do  :  what  can  ft  thou  exptft  from  duft, 
from  corruption,  but  defilement  ?  Our  foul  hands 
will  leave,  where  they  touch,  the  marks  of  their  un- 
cleanncfs  ;  and  moft  on  thofe  things  that  are  moft 
pure.  I  know  thou  ::i/t  be  fan8'ijied  in  ihem  that  cnne. 
nigh  theCf  a.*:  J  before  all  the  peopk  thou  wilt  be  ^brifisd  : 

and 


The  Saints  Everlafiing  Rejl.      3 1 

and  if  thy  jealoufy  excluded  from  that  land  of  reft, 
thy  fervants  Mofes  and  Aaron^  becaiife  they  fanclihed 
thee  not  in  the  midfl  of  Ij'rael  \  what  then  may  !  ex- 
pe6t  ?  But  though  the  weakpefs  be  the  fruit  of  my 
own  corruption  ;  yet  the  fire  is  from  thine  ahar,  and 
the  work  of  thy  commanding.  1  looked  not  into 
thine  ark,  nor  put  forth  my  hand  unto  it  without 
thee.  O  therefore  wafli  away  thefe  ilains  alfo  in  the 
blood  of  the  Lamb  ! 

CHAP.     IV. 

The  four  great  Preparations  to  our  ReJl. 

HAVING  thus  (lie  wed  you  a  fmali  gh'mpfe  of  that 
refemblance  of  the  faints  reft,  which  I  had  feea 
in  the  g^ofpel  glifs  ;  it  follows,  that  we  proceed  to 
view  a  little  the  bleiTed  properties  of  this  reft.  And 
why  doth  my  trembling  lieavt  draw  back  ?  Surely  the 
Loid  is  not  now  fo  inacceffible,  por  the  way  io  block- 
ed up,  as  when  the  law  and  curfe  reigned.  Wherefore, 
finding  the  flaming  fword  removed,  1  fhall  look  agaia 
into  the  paradife  of  our  God. 

And  firft,  let  us  confider  the  great  preparations  : 
for  tl\c  porch  of  this  temple  is  exceeding  glorious. 
Let  us  obfcrve, 

1.  The  moft  glorious  coming  of  the  Son  of  God. 

2.  His  raifing  cur  bodies,  and  uniting  them  again 
with  the  foul.  M»    - 

3.  His  foI;mn  proceedings  in  their  jiTd_p;ment^  where 
Vliey  fiuil  be  julUiied  before  all  the  world.  ^ 

4.  H-'i 


32      The  Saints  Everlajllng  Rejh, 

4.   His  enthroning  them  In  glory. 

I.  And  well  may  the  coming  of  Christ  be  reck- 
oned with  thofe  ingredients  that  compound  this  pre- 
cious reft  ;  for  to  this  end  it  is  Intended  ;  and  to  this 
end  it  is  of  apparent  nectlTity.  For  his  people's  fake 
he  fandified  himfelf  to  his  office  :  for  their  fake  he 
came  into  the  world,  fuffcred,  died,  rofe,  afcendcd  : 
and  for  their  fake  it  is  that  he  will  return.  To  this 
end  will  Christ  come  again  to  receive  his  people  to 
himfelf,  That  ivhere  he  isy  they  may  he  alfo,  John  xiv. 
3.  He  that  would  come  to  fufFer,  will  fiircly  come 
to  triumph  :  and  he  that  would  come  to  purchafe, 
will  furely  come  to  polTtfs. 

But  why  {laved  he  not  with  his  people  while  he 
was  here  ?  Why  ?  m.uft  not  the  comforter  be  fent  ? 
Was  not  the  work  on  earth  done  ?  Muft  he  not  re- 
ceive the  recompcnfe  of  reward,  and  enter  into  liis 
glory?  Mufl  he  not  take  pofTcflion  in  our  behalf? 
Mull  he  not  go  to  prepare  a  place  for  us  ?  Muft  he  not 
intercede  with  the  father,  and  plead  his  fufferings^ 
and  be  filled  with  the  fpirit  to  fend  It  forth,  and  re- 
ceive authority  to  fiibdue  his  enemies  ?  Our  abode 
here  is  fliort :  if  he  had  Hayed  on  earth,  what  would 
it  have  been  to  enjoy  him  for  a  few  days,  and  then 
die?  But  he  hath  more  in  heaven  to  dwell  among  ; 
even  the  fpiiits  of  the  juft  of  many  generations,  there 
made  peifc6l.  O  what  a  day  will  that  be  !  when  we 
who  have  been  kept  prifoners  by  the  grave,  fliali  be 
fetched  out  by  the  Lord  himfelf;  when  Chrift  (liall 
come  from  heaven  to  plead  with  his  enemies,  and  fee 
his  captives  free  ?  It  will  not  be  fuch  a  coming  as  his 
firtt  was,  in  meannefs,  and  poverty,  and  contempt  : 
lie  will  not  come  to  be  fpit  upon,  and  buffeted,  and 
fcorned,  and  crucified  again  :  he  will  not  come,  O 
careltfs  world  !  to  be  flighted  by  you  any  more,.  And 
yet  that  coming  which  was  in  infirmity  and  reproach 

iot. 


The  S^^i'ints  Everlajling  Refi^     2>s 

for  our  fakes,  wanted  not  its  glory.  If  the  angels  of 
heaven  niuft  be  the  mclfengcvs  of  that  coming;,  as  be- 
ing Tidings  of  joy  to  all  people  :  and  the  heavenly  hoft 
mud  acconnpany  his  nativity,  and  miift  praife  God 
with  that  folemnity  :  O  with  what  (houtings  will  an- 
gels and  faints  at  that  day  proclaim,  Gh'y  to  God, 
an.i  peace  and  ^ooi-^will  to .xanh  men  !  If  the  ftars  of 
heaven  muft  lead  men  to  come  to  worfhip  a  child  in  a 
manger,  how  will  the  glory  of  his  next  appearing 
con  drain  all  the  world  to  acknowledge  his  fovtreign- 
ty  !  If  when  he  was  in  the  form  ofafervant,  they 
cry  out,  What  manner  of  man  is  this^  that  loth  nuind 
and/ea  oSey  him  !  What  fhall  they  fay  when  they  fhall 
fee  him  coming  in  his  glory,  and  the  heavens  and 
earth  obey  hinj  ?  Then  fhall  appar  the  fign  of  the  Son 
cf  man  in  he^ven^  and  th^n  fload  all  the  tribes  of  the 
earth  mourn,  and  thty  Jhall  fee  the  Son  of  man  coming  in 
the  clouds  oj  heaven  nxith  power  and  great  glory. 

This  coming' of  C/6r/,/?  is  frequently  mentioned  in 
the  prophets,  as  the  great  fiipport  of  his  people's  fpirits 
till  then.  And  whenever  the  apoftles  would  quicken 
to  duty,  or  en/:ourage  to  patient  waiting,  they  ufual- 
ly  do  it  by  mentioning  Chfift\  coming.  Why  then 
do  we  not  ufe  more  this  cordial  confideration,  when- 
ever we  want  fiipport  and  comfort  ?  Shall  the  wicked 
with  inconceivable  horror  behold  him,  and  cry  out. 
Yonder  is  he  whofe  blood  v^'e  negle£led,  whofe  grace 
we  redded,  whofe  couufcls  we  refufed,  whofe  go- 
vernment we  cad  off!  And  thall  not  the  faints,  with 
inconceivable  gladnefs,  cry  out,  Yonder  is  he  whofe 
blood  redeemed  us,  whofe  fpirit  cleanfed  us!  Yonder 
comes  he  in  whom  we  truded,  and  now  we  fee  he  hath 
not  deceived  our  trud  :  he  for  whom  we  long  waited, 
and  now  we  fee  we  have  not  waited  in  vain'  O  how 
fuould  it  then  be  the  charader  of  a  chridian,  To 
wait  for  the  Son  of  God  from  heaven,  luhom  he  raifed 
from  ths  ds^id,  exsn  Jefus  ivhich  delivered  us  from  the 

tijrath 


34      Ths  Saints  Everlajllng  Rejl, 

vurath  to  come!  I  Tlieff.  I.  lo.  And  with  all  faith* 
ful  diligence,  to  prepare  to  meet  our  Lord  with  joy. 
/\nd  feeing  liIs  coming  is  of  purpofe  to  be  glorified  in- 
his  fa'mtSi  an  J  a.Jmired  in  all  them  that  believe ;  what 
thought  fhould  glad  our  hearts  more  than  the  thought 
of  that  day?  A  httle  while  indeed  we  have  not  feen- 
hims  but  yet  n  lilile  ivhUe  ani  ive  Jhall  fee  him,  for  he 
hath  faid,  /  ivill  not  leave  y.u  comforllefs ,  but  tuill 
come  unto  you.  We  were  comforllefs  fliould  he  not 
come.  And  while  we  daily  gaze  and  look  up  to  hea- 
ve, after  him,  let  us  remember  what  the  angel  fai  i, 
7 his  fame  Jcfus  'uhiih  is  taken  up  from  you  into  heaven^ 
JJiall fo  come  in  like  manner,  as  ye  have  feen  him  go  int§ 
heaven.  Let  every  chrlftian  that  heareth  and  readfth, 
fay,  Come;  and  our  Lord  himfelf  faith,  Surely  J  come 
quickly y  amen,  even  fo  come  Lord  Jcfus. 

The  fecond  ftream  that  leadeth  to  paradife,  if  that 
great  work  of  Jefus  Chrift,  in  raifing  our  bodies  from 
the  dull,  uniting  them  again  unto  the  foul.  What, 
faith  the  atheill,  fliall  all  thefe  fcattered  bones  and 
dull  become  a  man?  Thou  fool,  dofl  thou  difpute 
againfl;  the  power  of  the  Almighty?  Doll  thou  ob- 
ject difficulties  to  infinite  ilrength?  Thou  blind  mole! 
thou  little  piece  of  creeping,  breathing  clay  !  But 
come  thy  way,  let  me  take  thee  by  the  hand,  and  with 
reverence  (as  ElihuJ  plead  for  God;  and  for  that 
power  whereby  I  hope  to  arife.  Seed  thou  this  great, 
mafi)  body  of  the  earth  ?  upon  what  foundation  doth 
it  (land  ?  Seeft  thou  this  vail  ocean  of  waters  ?  what 
limits  them,  and  why  do  they  not  overflow  and  drown 
the  earth?  whence  is  that  conftant  ebbing  and  flow- 
ing of  her  tides?  wilt  thou  fay  from  the  moon,  or 
other  plautts  ?  and  whence  have  they  that  influence  ? 
Mull  thou  not  rome  to  a  caufe  of  caufes,  that  can  do 
all  things?  Ai'd  doth  not  reafon  require  thee,  to  con- 
ceive of  that  caufe  as  a  perfeft  intelligence,  and  vo- 
lantary  agent,  and  not  fuch  a  blind  worker  and  empty 

QOtioik 


The  Saints  Everlajling  Refl.     35 

iiotion  as  that  nothing  is,  v^hich  thou  calleft  nature  ? 
What  thinkeft  thou  ?  Is  not  that  power  able  to  effc6l 
thy  refurred^ion,  which  doth  all  this  ?  Is  it  not  ae  eafy 
to  raife  the  dtad,  as  to  make  heaven  and  earth,  and 
all  out  of  nothing?  But  if  thou  be  unperfuadable,  all 
1  fay  to  thee    more   is  as  the  prophet  to  the  prince  o£ 

.Samaria y  2  Kings  vii.  19..  Thou  /halt  fee  that  day  tuith 
X  thine  eyes i  but  little  to  thy  comfort  ■;  for  that  which  is 

.the  day    of  relief  to   the  faints,  fhallbe  a  day  of  re- 

<^enge  on  thee. 

Come  then,  fellow-chriftians,  let  us  commit  thefe 
carcafes  to  the  dull  :  that  prifon  fhall  not  long  contain 
them.  Let  us  lie  dawn  in  peace  and  take  our  reft:  it 
will  not  be  an  everlailing  night,  or  endlefs  deep  What 
if  we  go  out  of  the  troubles  and  (lirs  of  the  world, 
and  enter  into  thofe  chambers  of  duft,  and  the  doors 
; be  (hut  upon  us,  and  we  hide  our fe Ives,  as  it  were, 
for  a  little  moment  until  the  indignaticn  be  overpajl  ? 
Yet,  behold  the  Lord  cometh  out  of  his  place  to pun'r/h 
the  inhabitants  of  the  earth  for  their  iniquty  :  and  then 
the  earth  fliall  difclofe  us,  and  the  dull  fhall  hide  us 
no  more.  <^s  fure  as  we  awake  in  the  morning,  when 
we  have  flept  out  the  night,  fo  fuie  (hall  we  thea 
^wake. 

Lay  down  then  cheerfully  this  lump  of  corruption  : 
thou  fhalt  undoubtedly  receive  it  again  in  incorrup- 
.  tion.  Lay  down  freely  this  terreftriah  this  natural 
"^body :  thou  (halt  receive  it  again  a  celeftial,  a  fpi- 
ritnal  body.  Though  thou  lay  it  down  with  great 
dilhonour,  thou  fhalt  receive  it  in  glory ;  and  though 
thou  art  feparated  from  it  through  weaknefs,  it  fhall 
be  raifed  aj^ain  in  mighty  power.  When  the  trumpet 
of  God  fliall  found  the  call.  Come  atvayt  rif  ye  dead; 
who  fliall  then  ftay  behind  ?  Who  can  refift  the  pow- 
erful command  of  our  Lord  ?  When  he  fhall  call  to 
the  eartli  and   fea,  0  earthy  0  jea,  ^ive  up   thy  dead: 

the 


3 5      The  Saints  EverlaJIing  Rejl. 

the  firft  that  fliall  be  called  are  the  faints  that  fleep  ; 
and  then  the  faints  that  are  alive  fhall  be  changed. 
For  they  nvh'tcb  are  alfve,  and  remain  till  the  cumin^  of 
the  \^or^^  Jf^all  not  prevent  them  ivhich  are  ojleep.  For 
(he  Lord  htmfelf  Jlj.ill  defcend from  heaven  iv'tth  a  floout, 

,  fivith  the  voice  of  the  arch-angeJ^  and  txith  the  trump  of 
God  ;  and  the  dead  in  Chnjl  JJ:all  rifefrfl.  Then  they 
nvhich  are  alive  and  remain^  Jhall  he  caught  up  together 
nuith  them  in  the  clouds ^  to  meet  the  Lord  in  the  air ;  and 

fo  Jloa'd  ive  ever  he  ivith  the  Lord.  Triumph  now,  O 
chriftian  1  in  thefe  promifcs  :  thou  (halt  fhortly  tri- 
umph in  their  performance  :  for  this  is  the  day  that 
the  Lord  ivill  make  ;  IFe  Jh.'^U  he  glad  and  rtjoice 
therein.  The  grave  that  could  not  keep  our  Lord, 
cannot  keep  us  :  he  arofe  for  us,  and  by  the  fame 
power  will  caufe  us  to  arife.  For  if  ivt  believe  th.Jt 
Jtfiis  died  androfe  again  ;  ei'^n  fo  them  aff  'which  fleep 
in  efiis,  ivill  God  bring  iv'th  him.  Therefore  1ft  our 
hearts  be  glad,  and  our  glory  rejoice,  and  our  flefh  al- 
fo  rell;  in  hope  ;  for  he  will  not  leave  us  in  the  grave, 
nor  fufFer  us  ft  ill  to  fee  corruption.  Yea,  therefore  let 
us  hejledfafly  unmovcahle^  alixays    abounding  in  the  wori 

.  of  the  Lord,  for  as  much  as  ive  know  qur  labour  is  not  in 

,  n}uin  in  the  Lord. 

The  third  part  of  this  prologue  to  the  faints  reft, 
IS  Uie  folemn  procefs  at  their  judgmeiit,  where  they 
fhall  fird  themfelves  be  jutlified  ;  and  then  with  Chrift 
judge  the  world.  All  the  world  mufi  there  appear, 
young  and  old,  of  all  eflates  and  nations,  that  ever 
vere  from  the  c;  eat  Ion  to  that  day.  'I'hc  jtidgment . 
fliall  be  fet,  and  the  books  opened,  and  the  book  of 
life  pioduced  :  and  the  deid  fl:a'l  be  judged  out  of  thofe 
things  iK^hich  ivtre  i^ritten  in  the  books,  according  to  their 
nrorksy  and  ivhofocver  is  not  found  vjvitten  in  the  booh  of 
life,  is  ca/l  into  the  Lhe  of  Jire^  O  terrible  !  O  joy- 
ful day !  Terrible  to  thofe  that  have  not  watched, 
4>ut  forgot  the  coming   of  their  Lmd  !  Joyful  to  the 

faints^ 


The  Splints  EvenaJIin^  Red.      37 

faints,  whofe  waiting  and  liope  was  to  fee  this  day  ! 
Then  (hdll  the  world  behold  the  goodnefs  and  leverity 
of  the  Lord  ;  on  them  who  perifh,  feverity  ;  but  to 
his  chofen,  goodnefs.  When  every  one  nuifl  give  ac- 
count of  his  ftewardfliip  ;  and  every  talent  of  tinie» 
health,  wit,  mercies,  afHidlion,  means,  warnings,  mulh 
be  reckoned  for.  When  the  fins  of  youtlt,  and  thofc 
which  they  had  forgotten,  and  their  fccret  fins  fhall  be 
laid  open  before  angels  and  men  :  when  they  fliall  fee 
sll  their  fiiends,  wealth,  old  delights,  all  their  c^ifi- 
dence  and  falfe  hopes  forfake  them.  IVhcn  they  Ihall 
fee  the  Lord  Jefua  whom  they  negleded,  whofe  wtiid 
they  difobeyed,  whofe  minificrs  they  abufed,  whofe 
fervants  they  hated,  now  fitting  to  judge  themi  when 
their  own  confciences  (hall  cry  out  againll  them,  and 
call  to  their  remembrance  all  their  mildoings  Remem- 
ber, at  fuch  a  time  fiich  or  fuch  a  fm;  at  fuch  a  time 
^rfft  fued  hard  for  thy  converfion  :  the  Minillei  pref- 
Ito  it  home  to  thy  heart,  thou  wait  touched  to  the 
quick  with  ti»J  word;  thou  didit  purpofc  audpromlfe 
returning,  and  yet  thou  didfl  c^lt  off  all.  (3  w  liicli 
way  will  the  wretched  fmncr  look  !  O  who  can  con- 
ceive the  thoughts  of  his  heart !  Now  tiie  world  can- 
not help  him  ;  liis  old  companions  cannot  help  him  ; 
the  faints  neither  can  nor  will;  only  the  Lord  Jefus 
can  :  but  there  is  the  mifery,  he  will  not  :  nay,  with- 
out violating  the  truth  of  his  word,  he  cannot  :  tho' 
otherwifc,  in  regard  of  his  abfolute  power,  he  might. 
The  time  was,  fmner,  when  Chrift  would,  and  yon 
would  not  ;  and  now,  fain  would  you,  and  he  wii! 
not.  What  then  remains  but  to  cry  to  the  mountains. 
Fall  on  us ;  and  the  hills  cover  us  [rem  ths  prcfencc  of 
htm  that  fits  upon  the  throne  I  But  all  in  vain!  for  thou 
haft  the  Lord  of  mountains  and  hills  for  thine  ene- 
my, whofe  voice  they  will  obey,  and  not  thine.  Sin- 
ner, make  not  light  of  this  ;  for  as  thou  livelt  (ex- 
cept a  thorough  change  prevent  it)  thou  fliak  (hortly, 
lo  thy  inconceivable  horror,  fee  that  day. 

D  Poor 


58      Th£  Saints  Everlajling  Hejl. 

Poor  earelefs  finner,  I  did  not  think  here. to. have 
faid  fo  much  to  thee:  but  if  thefc  hncs  fall  into  thy 
Jiaiids,  /  charge  thee  before  God,  end  the  Lord  Jefus 
Chrill,  ruho  Jhalt  judge  the  qu'uk  and  the  dead  at  hif 
appearing.,  and  his  kingy^rn;  that  thou  make  hade  and 
gtt  alone,  apd  fet  ihyfclf  fadly  to  ponder  thefe  things. 
Ail-c  thy  heart,  is  this  true,  or  is  it  not  ?  Is  there  fucK 
.a  day,  aud  muft  1  fee  it  ?  What  do  J  then  ?  Is  it  not 
time,  full  time,  that  I  had  made  fure  of  v  hrill  and 
comfort  long  ago?  Should  1  iil  Itill  another  day,  who 
liave  loll  fo  many  ?  Fritnd,  1  ptofefs  to  thee  from  the 
word  of  the  Lord,  that  of  all  thy  fwtet  fins,  there 
will  then  be  nothing  left  but  the  (ting  in  thy  confci- 
ence,   which  will  be  never  out  through  iM  eternity. 

But  why  trembled  thou,  O  gracious  foul!    He  that 

.would  not  overlook  one  J^ot  in  S  d'tn,  nay.  tliat  could 
do  nothing  till  he  went  foith;  will  he  forge*:  thee  at 
that  day  ?  Thy  Lord  knoueth  hotv  to  deiivtr  ihe  gody 
cut  of  tempt  itioriy  and  to  rtferve  thr  ur'jufl  to  the  a  ay  nf 

jui^gment  to  be  punijht  i :  he  knowcth  how  to  make  the 
fame  day  the  grtattit  terror  to  his  foes,  and  yet  tliC 

,greatefl  joy  to  his  people.  1  here  u  n-)  cor.iltmnation  t§ 
them  that  are  in  Chrilt  Jcfus,  ni'ho  nvalk  not  afet 
the  Ji^Jht  but  after  the  jpirit.  And,  -iihofh  U  luy  any 
thttg  to  the  charge  of  God's  ele£l?  Sliall  the  law.? 
Why,  fwhatfosver  the  law  fatth^  it  faith  to  them  tbc^ 
are  under  tlte  law :    but  we  are  not  unuer  the  laiVy  but 

.vn-icr  grace  :  for  the  law  of  the  Jpirit  of  life,,  nnhich 
is    in   Chtift   Jefus,   hath  made  us  free  from  the  /a<u>  gf- 

Jln  ana  death.  Or  (hall  confcience  ?  We  were  long 
ago  jujiyied  by  faith f  and  fo  have  peace  '^  ith  G049 
and  have  our  hearts  fprinkled  from  an  evil  confciencez 
and  the  fpirit  bearing  witnefs  with  our  fpirtts^  that  we 
are  the  children  of  _GoA»     A  w  God  that  jujliftethf  whfi 

Jha-.l  condemn?  If  our  judge  condemn  us  not,  wlio 
/hall?  He  that  faid  to  tlir  adulterous  woman.  hMh 
fi9  man  condemnsd  thee?     Neither  do  I  condemn  thet\: 

He 


The  Saints  Ever  hiding  Rcjl.       39- 

He  will  fay  to  us,  (more  faithfully  than  Peter  to  him) 
Though  all  men  reny  the?,  or  condemn  the?,  I  'will  not. 
Thou  haft  confejfid  me  before  men^  and  I  ni'tll  conjfjs  thee 
before  my  Father  and  the  angels  in  heaven. 

What  inexprefiible  joy  mr\y  this  r.fford  a  believer  ? 
Gur  dtar  Lord  fhall  he  our  j  idge.  "Will  a  man  fear 
to  be  judged  by  his  deareft  friend,  by  a  brother,  hj 
a  father,  or  a  wife  by  her  own  hufband  ?  Did  he  come 
down,  and  fufFer  and  weep,  and  bleed,  and  die  for 
thee;  and  will  he  now  condemn  thee  ?  Was  he  judg- 
ed and  condemned,  and  executed  in  thy  (lead,  and 
now  will  he  condemn  thee?  Hath  it  colt  him  fo  dear 
to  fave  thee  ?  and  will  he  now  deflroy  thee  ?  Hath  lie 
done  the  moft  of  the  work  already,  in  jullifying,  pre- 
ferving  and  peifefting  thee  ?  and  vlll  he  now  undo 
all  again  ?  O  what  an  unreafonable  fm  is  unbelief, 
that  will  charge  our  Lord  with  fuch  abfut cities  ! 
Well  then,  feilow-chriftians,  let  the  terror  of  that  day 
be  never  fo  great,  o\ir  Lord  can  mean  no  ill  to  us 
in  all.  Let  it  make  the  devils  tremble  ;  and  the  wick- 
ed tremble  ;  but  it  fhall  make  us  leap  for  joy.  And 
it  mud  needs  afFeft  us  deeply  with  the  {<in(c  of  our 
mercy  and  happinefs,  to  behold  the  contraiy  condi- 
tion of  others.  To  fee  moft  of  the  world  tremble 
with  terror,  while  we  triumph  with  joy  :  to  fee  them 
thrud  into  hell,  when  we  are  proclaimed  heirs  of  the 
kingdom  ;  to  fee  our  neighbours  that  lived  in  the 
fame  towns,  came  to  the  fame  congregations,  dwelt 
in  the  fame  houfes,  and  were  efteemed  more  honour- 
able In  the  world  than  ourfelves  ;  now  fo  difPcrenced 
from  us,  and  by  the  fearcher  of  hearts  eternally  fepa- 
rated.  This,  with  the  great  magnificence  and  dread- 
lulnefs  of  the  day,  doth  the  apollle  pathetically  ex- 
prefs,  in  2  Thef.  I.  6,  7,  8,  9,  lO.  //  is  a  righteous  thing 
*iv:th  God  to  recompenfe  t'ibid  tion  to  them  that  trouble 
yjou  ;  and  to  you  tv'o  are  t'onbltd,  rejl  wiih  us  ;  nvhen  the 
Lord  Jefus   jhall  be   revealed  from  heaven    'with    his 

mighty 


40      77?^  Sai?Us  Everlafing  Refi. 

nighty  angels^  Iti  JIam'mg  Ji' e^  taling  vef:geance  en  ikeni 
that  knotv  v.'t  GotJ,  and  obey  not  the  gofpei  of  cvr  Lord 
Jefiis  Chrifl  ;  <u.hri  Jh.dl  be  pvnijhed  <with  everlojii  g 
dejrutlion  f>cm  the  pre  fence  of  the  hor^,  and  ft  ora  the 
ghry  of  his  p'yie^-.  And  now  is  Dot  here  enough  to 
ir.ake  tlat  diiy  a  welcome  day,  and  the  thoughts  of  it 
tlcllghtful  to  KM  ?  But  yet  there  is  more.  We  (hall 
he  fo  far  from  the  drtad  of  that  judgment,  that  our- 
ftlves  fh.all  become  the  judges.  Chrift  will  take  his 
pev)ple,  as  it  were  into  commifHon  with  him  ;  and  they 
Ihi.ll  ill  a:id  appiovc  his  righteous  jiidgmeKt. 

*Do  yu  not  hoiv  ih  t  the  /  tuts  fj^^ll }udge  the  rn^orld  ? 
j-^ay.  Know  y.u  not  that  'ueJkaU judge  nngeh  r  Surely, 
Mtre  It  not  the  ^vord  of  Oiriil  thai  fpeaka  it,  this  ad- 
vancemejit  would  fttm  incredible,  yet  even  Enoch, 
t'ae  feventh  from  A<-arn^  prophtficd  of  this  ;  faying, 
J^eholj  the  Lord  cometh  with  ten  thoufnd  of  h  s  fdiuts^ 
10  cxrcute  jud^ir.eni  upcn  ally  an  i  eonv.'nce  a'/  ih.it  are 
urigod'y  riniOi g  ihirriy  cf  thtir  ungodly  deed,  nxhith  they 
/?  i:  e  un^odldy  committed  \  and  of  aH  their  hard JfcecheSy 
<ivhich  vrigocuy  finners  haz-e  jpoh  againJI  him.  Judc  14, 
<kc.  Thus  (hall  the  faints  be  honoured,  and  the  rlgU- 
eou'  h  ive  dotni.ion  in  the  morning.  O  that  the  carelefs 
world  were  but  ^-Jiije  to  corjider  this,  and  thut  they  would 
remimher  their  L.tter  end  I  'i  hat  they  would  be  now  of 
the  fame  mind,  as  they  will  be  when  they  fhall  fee  the 
h  avens  paf  aivay  <wiih  a  great  noife,  avd  the  elemeuis 
melt  i>.ilh  ftrv::nt  heat  ;  the  earth  afo,  and  the  nuorks  that 
are  therein  he  bumf  up  !  When  all  fhall  be  on  fire  about 
iheir  ears,  and  all  earthly  glory  con  fumed.  For  the 
heavers^  and  the  earth  avkich  are  aoxu,  by  the  fame 
i(  ord  are  ktpt  in  flore,  refrved  unto  fire  againfl  the  day 
ofjudgn.enty  cind  perdition  cf  ungodly  men.  Seeing  then 
all  thffe  things  Jhall  be  dfpjivsJy  ix-hat  manner  of  perfons 
ought  ye  to  be  in  r<l!  hdy  canverfuion  and  i^odlinfs  :  look-, 
iiig  for,  iind  h<fl'rug  to  the  coming  of  the  day  of  God  \ 
ivherein  the  hcavi<ns  being  on  fir  ft  Jlj  iil  be  ('iffolvedf  end 
the  elements  melt  luilh  fervent  heat.  The 


The  Saints  Everlajling  Reji,      41 

The  fourth  antecedent  to  the  faints  advancennent 
Is,  their  foleinn  coronation,  and  receiving  into  the 
kingdom.  For  as  Chrift,  their  head,  is  anointed  both 
king  and  prieft  ;  fo  under  him  are  his  people  made 
unto  God  both  kings  and  priefts  :  To  reignt  and  fa 
offer  praifes  for  evtr^  Rev.  v.  lo.  The  croivn  of  right e- 
Gufnefsy  ivhich  was  laid  up  for  thtnijjhall  by  the  Lord, 
the  righteous  judge,  be  given  them  at  that  day^  2.  Tim. 
iv.  8.  They  have  been  faithful  to  the  death,  and  there- 
fore Jhall  receive  the  crown  of  life  :  and  according  to 
the  improvement  of  their  talents  here,  fo  rtiall  their 
rule  and  dignity  be  enlarged.  So  that  they  are  not 
dignified  with  empty  titles,  but  real  dominions.  For 
Chr'i/l  ivill  take  them  and  ft  them  down  tvith  hitnfelf, 
in  his  o<wn  throne ;  and  luill  give  them  power  over  the 
nations,  even  as  he  received  of  his  Father*  j^nd  w;// 
^ive  them  the  morning  Jlar.  The  Lord  himfelf  will 
give  them  poffcllion  Vv'ith  thefe  applauding  expreflions  : 
IVell  dene,  good  and  faithful  fervant,  thou  hajl  been 
faithful  ever  a  feiv  things,  I  tvill  make  thee  ruler  over 
ma-.y  thing'  ;  enter  thou  into  the  joy  nf  thy  Lord.  And 
with  this  folemn  and  blefled  proclamation  fhall  he  en- 
throne them  ;  Come,  yeb^ejfed  of  my  Father,  inherit  the 
hingdom  prepared  for  you  from  the  foundation  of  the  nvorld. 
Every  word  is  full  of  life  and  joy.  [Come.^  This  is 
the  holding  forth  of  the  golden  fceptre  ;  to  warrant 
our  approach  unto  this  glory.  Come  now  as  near  as 
you  will  :  fear  not  the  Bethjhsmites  judgment  :  for  the 
enmity  is  utterly  taken  away.  This  is  not  fuch  a 
Come  as  v/e  were  wont  to  hear,  Come  take  up  your  crofsj 
and  follow  me  :  though  that  was  fweet,  yet  this  is  much 
:more  fo.  \_TebIe/fcd^  Bleffed  indeed,  when  that  mouth 
fhall  fo  pronounce  us.  For  though  the  world  halh 
accounted  us  accurfed,  yet  certainly  thofe  that  he  blef- 
feth  are  bltffed  :  and  thofe  whom  he  curfeth  only,  are 
curfed  :  and  his  blcfTing  fhall  not  be  revoked.  But 
he  hath  blcffed  us,  and  we  fhall  be  blelfed.  \0f  viy 
Father]  Blcffed  in  the  Father's  love,  as  well  as  the 
D  2  Son's : 


42       The  Saints  Evcrhijling  Reji. 

Son's  :  for  lliey  are  one  :  the  Father  hath  tcftified  hia 
love,  ill  fending  Chrid  and  accepting  his  ranfom ;  as  the 
Son  halh  nlfo  tellified  fiis.  [/r:/;^';/]  No  longer  bond- 
men, nor  fcrvants  only,  nor  children  under  age,  who 
differ  not  in  poficllion,  but  only  in  the  title  from  fer- 
vants  :  but  now,  we  are  hdrs  nf  th^  kingdom,  co-heirs 
ivitb  Chriil.  [The  llngjcm]  No  lefs  tlian  the  king- 
dom I  Indeed  to  be  King  of  kings,  and  Lord  of  lords, 
is  our  Lord's  own  title  :  but  to  be  kings  and  reign 
with  him,  is  ours:  the  fruition  of  this  kingdom,  is 
as  the  fruition  of  the  liglit  of  the  fun,  each  liatli  the 
vhclc,  and  the  reft  never  the  Icfs.  [  Prepared  for  you'\ 
God  is  tiie  ^Uph.i,  as  well  as  the  Omcg^  of  our  bkf- 
fednefs.  Eternal  love  hath  laid  the  foundation.  lie 
prepared  the  kingdom  for  us,  and  then  prepared  us 
for  the  kingdf>m.  This  is  the  preparation  of  his 
counfcl  ;  for  the  execution  whereof  Chrid  was  yet  to 
Kiake  a  further  preparation.  [Fcr  you]  Not  for  be- 
lieveis  only  in  general,  but  for  you  in  particular. 
l^F' om  the  ffyundaUon  (f  the  I'.orld]  Not  only  from  tiie 
prcmife  after  Adufti^  fa^l,  but  from  eternity. 

But  a  difficulty  arifcth  incur  way.  Fn  what  fenfe 
is  our  improvement  of  our  talent,  our  well-duing, 
our  overcoming,  our  harbouring,  vifiting,  fecdin;^ 
Chiid  in  his  little  ones,  alledged  as  a  reafcn  of  our 
coronation  and  glory  ?  Is  it  not  the  purchafed  poffef- 
fiv)n,  and  mere  fruit  of  Chrift's  blood  ?  If  every  man 
mull  be  judged  according  to  his  works,  and  receive 
according  to  what  they  have  done  in  the  flefh,  u'he- 
ther  good  or  evil  ;  if  God  will  render  to  every  man 
acurd'm^  ii-  his  deeas^  Rom.  ii.  6,  7.  and  give  eternal 
life  to  all  men,  if  they  patiently  continue  in  well  do- 
ing ;  if  he  will  give  right  to  the  tree  of  life,  i^fv, 
xxii.  14.  and  entrance  into  the  city,  to  the  doers  of 
his  commandments ;  and  if  this  laft  abfolving  fentence 
be  the  com.pleting  of  our  iuilification  ;  and  fo  the  do- 
(is  of  tbt;  laiv  be  j'jj}ifi£j^    Rom,  ii.  13.  then  what  is 

become 


The  Saints  Everlafnng  ReJI.      45 

become  of  free  grace?  or  juflification  by  faith  or.Iy  ? 
of  the  fole  righteoufnefs  of  ChriR  to  make  us  accepted  ? 
I  anfwer, 

1.  Let  not  the  names  of  men  draw  thee  one  way  or 
other,  nor  make  thee  partial  in  fearchini^  for  the  tiiith  : 
diflike  the  men  for  their  iinfound  dodlrine  ;  but  call 
not  do^^rine  unfound,  becaufe  it  is  theirs  :  nor  found 
becaufe  of  the  repute  of  the  writer. 

2.  Know  tin's,  that  as  an  unhumbled  foul  is  far 
apter  to  give  too  much  to  duty  and  perfonal  righte- 
oufuefs,  than  to  Chiift  j  fo  an  humble  felf-denying 
cliriftian  is  as  likely  to  err  on  the  other  hand,  in  giv- 
ing lefs  to  duty  than  Chrifl:  hath  given,  and  laying  ail 
the  work  from  himfelf  on  Chrift,  for  fear  of  robbing 
Chrift  of  the  honour;  and  fo  much  to  look  at  Chrilt 
without  him,  and  think  he  fhould  look  at  nothing  in 
liimfelF;   that  he  forgets  Chrift  within  him. 

3.  Our  giving  to  Chrift  more  of  the  woik  than 
fciipture  doth,  or  lather  our  afcribing  it  to  him  out 
of  the  fcripture  way,  doth  but  diiTionour,  and  not 
honour  him  ;  and  dcprefs,  but  not  exalt  his  free  grace  : 
while  we  deny  the  inward  fandifying  work  of  his 
fpirit,  and  extol  his  free  juftification,  which  are  equal 
fruits  of  iiis  merit,  we  make  liim  an  imperfeft  Savi- 
our. 

4.  But  to  arrogate  to  ouiftlves  any  part  of  Chi/ft's 
prerogative,  is  moft  defperate  of  all,  and  no  doctrine 
more  diredly  overthrows  the  gofpcl  almoft.  than  that 
of  juftification  by  the  merits  oi  our  own,  or  by  works 
of  the  law. 

And  thus  we  have  feen  the  chriftian  fafely  landed 
in  pav'^dife  ;  ar.d  conveyed  honourably  to  his  reft. 
Now  let  us  a  little  further  view  thofc  maniions^  corr- 

fid.r 


i 


44      '^^^^  Saints  EverJaJling  Refi, 

fider  his  privileges,  and  fee  whether  there  be  any  glo-. 
jy  like  unto  this  glory. 

CHAP.    V. 

The  Excellencies  of  our  Refi, 

LET  us  fee  more  immediately  from  the  pure  foun-. 
tain  of  the  fcriptures,  what  further  excellencies 
this    reft    affordetli.      And    the   Lord  hide    us  in  the 
clefts  of  tlie  rock,  and  cover  us  with  the  hands  of  in- 
dulgent grace,  while  we  approach  to  take  this  view. 

And  flrft,  't  is  a  moft  fingular  honour  of  the  faint's 
reft,  to  be  called  \\\t:  par  chafed  pcjftjfion  ;  that  it  is  the 
fruit  of  the  blood  of  the  Son  of  God  ;  yea,  the  chief 
fruit  :  yea,  the  end  and  peifeilion  of  all  the  fruits  of 
that  blood.  Surely  love  is  the  moft  precious  ingredi- 
ent in  the  whole  compofitlon  ;  and  of  ail  the  flowers 
that  grow  in  tke  garden  of  love,  can  there  be  brought  . 
one  more  fweet  than  this  blood?  Greater  love  than 
this  there  is  not,  to  lay  down  the  life  of  the  lover. 
And  to  have  this  our  Redeemer  ever  before  our  eyes, 
and  the  livelieft  fenfe  and  frefheft  rem<"mhrance  of  that 
dying  bleeding  love  ftill  upon  our  fouls;  O  how  will 
it  fill  owr  fouls  with  perpetual  ravlihments,  to  think  . 
that  in  the  ftrcams  of  this  blood,  we  have  fwum  thro' 
the  violence  of  the  world,  the  fnares  of  Satan^  tlie  fe- 
ducements  of  tlje  fiefh,  the  curfe  of  the  law,  the  wrath 
of  an  oifended  God,  the  accufationsof  a  guilty  confci- 
ence,  and  the  doubts  and  fears  of  an  unbelieving  heart, 
and  are  pafled  throuoh  all,  and  arilved  fafely  at  the 
breaft  of  God  !  Now  we  are  ftupified  with  vile  and 
fenfekfs  hearts,  that  can  hear  a:l  the  ftory  of  this  love, 
and  read. all  the  fuiferings  of  love  5  and  all  with  dui- 


flefs* 


The  Saints  Everlijllng  Reji..     45 

r/efs,  and  unaffedlcJnefs.  Yi^  cries  to  us,  Bahohi  and" 
fee,  is  it  nothi  g  to  y^u^  0  all  ye  that  pafs  by  P  Is  there 
any  forrcw  l:he  unto  my  forrow  ?  And  we  will  fcarce 
hear  or  re^i^ard  the  voice  ;  or  turn  afide  to  view  the 
wou4ids  of  him  who  healed  our  wounds  at  fo  dear  a 
rate.  But  oh  !  then  our  perftAed  fouls  will  feel  as 
well  as  hear,  and  with  feeling  apprehenfions  flame  in 
love  for  love.  Now  we  fet  his  pidure  wounded  and 
dying  before  our  eyes,  but  can  get  it  no  nearer  our 
hearts,  than  if  we  believed  nothing  of  what  we  read. 
But  then  when  the  obllrufiions  between  the  eye  and 
the  iinderftanding  are  taken  away,  and  the  paflage 
opened  between  the  head  and  heart,  fuf-ely  our  eyes- 
will  everlaftlngly  affed  our  heart  !  And  while  we  view 
with  one  eye  our  flain  revived  Lord,  and  with  the 
other  eye  our  lod  recovered  fouls,  thefe  views  will 
eternally  pierce  us.  and  warm  our  very  fouls.  And 
thofe  eyes  through  which  folly  hath  fo  often  fl:olen 
into  our  liearts,  let  in  the  love  of  our  deareft  Lord 
for  ever. 

We  fhall  then  leave  thefe  hearts  of  flone  and  rock 
behind  us,  and  the  fin  tliat  here  fo  clofe  befets  us,  and 
the  fottlfh  unklndnefs  tlmt  followed  us  fo  lou'^,  fhall 
not  be  able  to  follow  us  into  glory.  But  we  fhail  be- 
hold, as  it  were,  the  wounds  of  love,  with  eyes  s,nd 
hearts  of  love  for  ever.  Now  hhs  heart  is  open  to  U8^ 
and  ours  (hut  to  him  :  but  when  his  heart  fhall  be 
open,  and  our  hearts  open,  oh  the  blefTcd  congrefs 
that  will  then  be  !  What  a  pHfllonate  meeting  is  there 
between  our  new-rifen  Lord,  and  the  firft  Unftil  wo- 
man that  he  appears  to  !  How  doth  love  ftruggle  for 
expreffions?  and  the  firaitened  fire  fhut  up  in  the 
bread,  drive  to  break  forth  ?  Mary  !  faith  Chriit  : 
M ifter  !  faith  Mary  :  and  prefently  fhe  clafps  about 
his  feet,  having  her  heart  as  near  ta  his  heart  as  her 
hands  were  to  his  f'^et  What  a  meetiuff  of  love  then' 
v:\\[  there  be,  between  the  newly  glorified  faint,  anc 

the 


46      The  Saints  Everlajiing  Rejl\ 

the  glorious  Redeemer  !  But  1  am  here  at  a  lofs,  my 
apprehenfions  fail  me,  and  fall  too  fhort.  Only  this 
I  know,  it  will  be  the  fingular  praife  of  our  inheri- 
tance, that  It  was  bought  with  the  price  of  that  blood  ; 
and  the  fingular  joy  of  the  faints,  to  behold  the  pur- 
chafer  and  the  price,  together  with  the  pofTeflion  : 
neither  will  the  views  of  the  wounds  of  love  renew 
our  wounds  or  forrow  :  he  whofe  firfl  words  after  hi*, 
refurred^ion  were  to  a  great  finner,  IVoman,  v.'hy 
nveepeft  f  ou  ?  knows  how  to  raife  love  and  joy  by  all 
thofe  views,  without  raiiing  any  cloud  of  forrow.  If 
a  dying  friend  deliver  but  a  token  of  his  love,  how 
carefully  do  we  prefervc  it  ?  and  (lill  remember  him- 
when  we  behold  it,  as  if  his  own  name  were  written- 
on  it  ?  And  will  not  then  the  death  and  blood  of  our- 
Lord  everlaflingly  fweeten  our  pofTelTed  glory  ?  Well' 
then,  chriftians,  as  you  ufe  to  do  in  your  books,  and- 
on  your  goods,  to  write  down  the  price  they  colt 
you  :  fo  on  your  righteoufnefs,  and  on  your  glory  j; 
write  down  the  price.   The  precious  Hood  of  Chriii. 

Yet  underfland  this  rightly  :  not  that  this  higheft- 
glory   was   in  the  ilri^fteit  fenfe  purchafed,  fo  as  that* 
it  was  the  moft  immediate  effcA  of  Chtift's  death  ;  we 
mud  take  heed  that  we  conceive  not  of  God  as  a  ty- 
rant, who   fo   delightcth   in   cruelty,  as  to  excliange 
mercies  for  ftripes.     God    was   never  fo  plea  fed  with 
the  fufferings  of  the  innocent,  much  lefs  of  his  Son, 
as  to  fell  his  mercy  properly  for  their  fufferings.      But- 
the  fufferings  of  Chriii  were  primarily  and  immediate- 
ly to  fatisfy  juftice,  and  to  bear  what  was  due  to  the 
ftnner,  and  fo  to  leftore  him    to   the  life  he  loll,  and 
the   happinefs  he  fell  from  :  but   this  dignity,  which 
furpafleth  the  lirft,  is  as  it  were,  from  the  redundancy 
^-      of  his  merit,  or  a  fecoiidary  fruit  of   his  death.      'I'he 
^^^work  of  his   redemption   fo   well  pleafcd  the  Father, 
^^^■.hat  he   gave  him  power  to   advance    his  chofen  to  a 
^^^m'gher  dignity,  than  they  fell  from  \  and  to  give  them 


The  Saints  Everla/ling  Reft.     47 

tile  glory    which   was  given   to   himfdf  ;  and  all  thU 
according  to  the  good  pleafure  of  his  own  will, 

2.  The  fecond  ^ earl  in  ihe  faint's  Sa^eniy  is,  that  it  • 
-is  free  Ihis  feemeth  as  Pharaoh's  fecond  kiney  t>  ie^ 
vour  the  former.  But  the  feeming  difcord,  is  but  a 
pleafingdiverfity  whichconftitutes  the  melody.  Thefe 
two  attributes  purchafed  and  free,  arc  the  two  chains 
«f  gold,  which  make  up  the  wreath  for  the  heads  of 
the  pillars  in  the  temple  of  God.  It  was  dear  to 
.Chrilt,  but  free  to  us.  When  Chrift  was  to  buy,  fil- 
.vt-r  i\nd  geld  were  nothing  worth  ;  prayers  and  tears 
.could  not  fufficc  ;  nur  any  thing  below  his  bluod  ; 
but  when  we  come  to  buy,  our  buying  is  but  receiv- 
ing :  we  have  it  freely,  iiith-mt  m  ney  and  luithrut 
•piice.  Nor  do  the  gofpel-conditions  make  it  the  lefa 
free;  if  the  gofpel- conditions  had  been  fuch  a>i  are 
the  laws,  or  payment  of  the  d^bt  required  at  our 
liands.;  the  frecnefs  then  were  more  queftionahle. 
Yea,  if  (Sod  had  faid  to  lis.  Sinners,  if  you  ivll  fnitsfy 
.my  jutiice  for  one  of  ynurfins,  I  •i\.iilfjy  i^i: e  you  all  tlje 
reji,  it  would  have  been  a  hard  condition  on  our  part, 
and  the  grace  of  the  covenant  not  (o  free,  as  our  dif- 
-sbility  doth  require.  But  if  all  the  condition  be  our 
,curdial  acceptation,  furely  we  defejve  not  the  name 
of  purchafer?.  'i  hankfully  accepting  of  a  free  acquit- 
tance, is  no  paying  of  the  debt.  If  life  be  ofTtrcd  to 
-a  condemned  man,  upon  condition  that  he  (hall  not 
icfufe  the  offer,  the  favour  is  neverthtlefs  free.  Nay, 
though  the  condition  were,  that  he  (hould  beg,  and 
wait  before  he  have  his  pardon,  and  take  liim  for  his 
Jjord  who  hatli  thus  redeemed  him,  this  is  no  fatis- 
fying  tliejnftice  of  the  law  :  efpecially  when  the  con- 
dition is  alio  ^iven  by  God  ;  furely  then  here  is  all 
(free  :  if  the  Father  freely  give  the  Son,  and  the  Son 
freely  pay  the  debt  ;  and  if  God  freely  accept  that 
Avay  of  payment,  when  he  might  have  required  it  of 
the  principal  j  and  if  both  Pathcr  and  Son  freely  offer 

U9 


48       The  Saints  Everla/ling  Rejl. 

AJ8  the  purchafcd  life  upon  thofc  fair  conditions;  ar>d  \l 
thf-y  alfo  freely  fend  the  fplilt  to  enable  us  to  perform 
thof*!  conditions,  then  what  is  here,  that  is  not  free? 
O  tbj  everlafting  admiration  that  mud  netds  furprife 
the  faints  to  think  of  this  freenefs!  What  did  the 
Lord  fee  in  me,  that  he  fliould  judge  me  meet  for 
fuch  a  rtate:  that  I  who  was  but  a  poor,  defpifed 
wretch,  fhould  be  clad  In  the  brightnefs  of  this  glory? 
that  I,  a  filly,  creeping  worm,  fhould  be  advanced  to 
this  high  dignity  ?  He  that  durft  not  lift  up  his  eyes 
to  heaven,  but  ftood  afar  off  fmiting  his  breaft,  and 
crying,  Lord,  he  merciful  to  me  a  Jinner!  now  to  be 
lifted  up  to  heaven  himfelf !  He  who  was  wont  ta 
write  his  name  in  Bradford's  ftyle,  the  unthanhfuU  the 
harff'hearteJ,  the  untuorthy  Jinucrl  and  was  wont  to 
admire  that  patience  could  bear  fo  long,  and  juflice 
fuffer  him  to  live:  fure  he  will  admire  at  this  altera- 
-tion,  when  he  fhall  find  by  experience,  that  unwortht* 
nefs  could  not  hinder  his  falvation,  which  he  thought 
tvonld  have  bereaved  him  of  every  mr-c^.  Ah  1 
chriflian,  there  is  no  talk  of  our  worthinefs  or  un- 
vrovthinefs.  If  worthlncfs  were  our  condition  for  ad* 
mittanc^,  we  might  fit  down  with  8t.  John,  and  weep, 
Becaufe  none  in  hsaven  or  on  earth  is  found  tvorthy.  But 
the  Hon  of  :he  tribe  of  Judah  is  'worthy,  and  hath  pre- 
'vaile^ i  and  hy  that  title  mufl  lue  hold  the  inheritance. 
We  (hall  offer  there  the  offering  that  Da-jid  refufed', 
.rven  praife  for  ihat  ivhich  cojl  us  nothing.  Here  our 
•commiffion  runs,  freely  ye  have  received,  freely  give* 
But  Ciirili  hath  dearly  received,  yet  freely 'gives.  Yet 
this  is  not  all.  If  it  were  only  for  nothing,  -and  with- 
out our  m<^rit,  the  wonder  were  great  :  but  it  is  more- 
over againft  our  merit,  and  againtl  our  long%>ndea- 
■vouring   our  own  ruin.     The  broken  heart  that  hath. 

t  known  the  defert  of  fjn,  dofh  both  UTiderftand  and  feel 
-  what  I  fay.  What  an  ailonifning  thought  it  will  be, 
E  to  think  of  the  unmeafurable  difference  between  our 
^^efervings,  and  our  receivings!  between  the  Hate  we 
\  fhould 


V 


The  S.ihits  EvsrlajTing  Rcfl.      49 

(Kould  have  been  In,  and  the  Qate  we  are  in  !  to  look 
down  upon  hell,  and  fee  the  va!l  duTerence  that  free 
grace  hath  made  betwixt  us  andthern  !  to  fee  the  In- 
liciltance  there,  wliich  we  were  born  to,  fo  dilferent 
from  that  which  we  are  adopted  to  !  Oh  !  what  pangs 
of  love  will  it  caufe  within  us,  to  think,  yonder  was 
the  place  that  fin  wonid  have  brought  nne  to  ;  but  this 
is  it  that  Chrill  Iiath  brought  me  to  !  Yonder  death 
was  the  wages  of  my  lln  ;  but  this  eternal  life  is  the 
gift  of  God,  through  Jefiis  Chrift  my  Lotd.  Doubf- 
lefs  this  will  be  our  evcrlafiing  admiration,  that 
fo  rich  a  crown  fiiould  fit  the  head  of  fo  vile  a 
fuiner  !  that  fuch  higli  advancement,  and  fiich  long 
imfrultfulnefs  and  unkindncf^  can  be  the  (late  of  the 
fame  perfons  !  and  that  fuch  vile  rebellions  can  con- 
clude in  fuch  moll  precious  joys  !  But  no  thanks  to 
us  ;  nor  to  any  of  our  duties  and  labours,  much  lefs 
to  our  negledls  and  Ir/.inefs;  we  know  to  w!iv>m  trie 
praife  is  due,  and  mult  be  given  for  ever.  And  in. 
deed  to  this  very  end  i:  was,  that  infinite  wifdom  did 
call  the  whole  dehgn  of  man's  falvat ion  into  the 
mould  of  PURCHASE  and  FREENESS,  tiiat  the 
Jove  and  joy  of  man  might  be  perfected,  and  the  ho- 
Dour  of  grace  moll  highly  advanced  :  that  the  thought 
of  merit  might  neither  cloud  the  one,  nor  obltruft  the 
other  ;  and  tliat  on  thefe  two  hinges  the  crates  of  hea- 
ven might  turn.  So  then  let  [DESERVED]  be 
wiitten  on  the  door  of  hell,  but  on  the  door  of  hea- 
ven and  life,  [THE  FREE  GIFT.] 

A  third  comfortable  adjund  of  this  refl  is,  tliat  it 
is  the  felhm'ihip  of  the  bleifcd  faints  and  angels  of 
God.  i>Not  fo  lingulai\will  the  chriiiian  be,  as  to  be 
folitary.  Though  it.'fce  proper  to  the  faints  only,  yet 
is  it  common  to  allrthe  faints.  For  what  is  it,  but 
an  affociation  of  blcffed  fpirits  in  God  ?  A  corpora- 
tion of  perfetled  faints,  whereof  Chrill  is  the  head  \ 
The  commuiiioa  of  faints  complcated  :  Foi  thofe  that 
K  have 


50      Tloe  Sill  fits  ExferlaJIhig  Refl. 

Iiave  prayed,  and  faftcd,  and  wept,  and  watched,  and 
availed  together;  now  to  enjoy,  and  praife  together, 
metliinks  (hould  much  advance  their  plcafure.  He 
V'ho  mentioneth  the  quah'fications  of  our  happinefs,, 
cf  piirpofe  that  our  juy  may  be  full,  and  makcth  fo 
ok  mention  of  our  conjundlon  In  his  praifes,  fure 
doth  hfjreby  intimate  to  us,  triat  this  will  be  fome  ad- 
vantage to  our  joys.  Certain  1  am  of  this,  fclluw- 
chriilians,  that  as  we  have  been  together  in  labour, 
duty,  danger  and  diitrels,  fo  fluill  we  be  in  the  great 
jecompenfe  ;  and  as  we  have  been  fcorned  and  defpif- 
cd,  fo  ihall  \vc  be  crowned  and  honoured  together  ; 
nnd  we  who  have  gone  through  the  day  of  ladnefs, 
(liall  enjoy  together  that  day  of  gladnefs.  And  thofe 
who  have  been  with  us  in  perfecution  and  prifon,  (hall 
he  with  U3  alfo  in  that  place  of  confolatlon.  When  I 
]uok  in  the  faces  of  the  people  of  God,  and  belitv- 
j'lgly  think  of  this  day,  what  a  refrefhing  thought  is 
it!  6ha!l  we  not  there  remember  our  fcUowHiip  in 
<3uty  and  in  fufrerings  ?  How  oft  our  gioans  made 
as  it  were  one  found,  our  tears  but  one  llream,  and 
our  dcfiies  but  one  prayer?  And  now  all  our  praifes 
f  iall  make  up  one  melody  ;  aud  all  our  churches  one 
church  ;  and  all  ourfclves  but  one  body  :  for  we  fhall 
be  one  in  Chi  ill,  even  as  he  and  the  Fatlver  are  cue. 
It.  is  true,  we  muft  be  very  careful  that  we  look  not 
fjr  that  in  the  faints,  wiiich  is  aluue  in  Chrill  and 
that  we  give  them  not  his  prerogative  :  i.or  expert 
too  great  apart  of  our  comfort  in  the  fruiiii)n  of  them: 
we  are  prone  enough  to  this  kij>d  of  itiolatry.  But 
yet  he  who  commands  Ub  fo  to  icvc  them  now',  will 
give  us  leave  in  the  fame  fubtwdiiialion  to  himielf  to 
love  them  then,  when  hii'  tlf  hath  made  tl.i  m  much 
more  lovtly.  And  ^  wc  may  love  thtm,  we  fhali 
furely  rejoice  in  them  ;  for  love  caimot  lland  wiihout 
an  anfwerablejoy.  If  the  forcthougfit  oi  htting  down 
with  Ab'-ahamy  Ifaac^  Jacob,  and  all  the  prophets  in 
tUe  kliigdom  of  God,  mjy  be  oui  lawful  joy  ;  then 

how 


The  Saints  E'verlnjiing  Rtfl,       51 

how  much  more  that  real  fight,  and  acTtiial  poiRiTion  ! 
It  cannot  choofc  btit  be  comfortable  to  mc  to  tljink 
of  that  day,  vvhcn  1  fii!iljoi:i  w:th  M ft:  in  his  fon^, 
with  Daind'wx  his  pfalms  of  pvaife,  and  with  all  rii<i 
redeemed  In  the/>/Je  of  the  J.amh  for  eve  .  When  we 
fh;dl  fee  Enoch  walkincr  with  God  ;  Noah  cnjoyinnr 
the  end  of  his  finjTularity  ;  J'^eph  of  his  Integrity  ; 
Job  of  his  patience  ;  Hfzeki.ih  of  his  iiprightnefs  ;  and 
all  the  faints  the  end  of  their  faith.  O  happy  day, 
wncn  I  fhall  depart  out  of  this  crowd  and  fiuk,  and  go 
to  :fiat  fame  council  of  fouls  !  I  know  that  Chrid  is 
All  in  All,  and  that  it  is  tlic  prefence  of  Gud  that: 
maketli  heaven  to  be  heaveii.  But  yet  It  much  fwttt- 
cnelh  the  ihonjfhts  of  that  place  to  me,  to  remember 
tdiat  there  are  fach  a  ir^nkitude  of  my  mi  ;l  dear  and 
precious  friends  in  Ch.ift.  :  iv'tth  iib  m  J  t  ok  f^ruett 
iounftij  uhh  ix'Uh  'whom  I  K.:ent  iih  to  fh^  h  .if-  of  God, 
ivho  ivalkeu  ivilh  me  in  the  fe.  r  of  Q-tdy  'in.i  imegrily 
of  their  heirts  :  In  the  face  of  whofc  converfatio.i 
there  was  written  the  name  of  Ciir;il;  ;  wiiofe  fenfible 
mention  of  his  excellencies  hath  made  my  heart  to 
burn  witnln  me.  To  think  fuch  a  friend  that  died 
at  fuch  a  time,  and  fucli  a  one  at  another  time,  and 
that  all  thefe  are  entered  into  rell  ;  and  we  (hall  rare- 
ly go  tothcrn  It  is  a  qutllion  with  fome,  Whether 
ve  fhall  kno>v  each  other  in  heaven  or  no  ?  Surely, 
there  (hall  no  knowledge  ceafe  which  now  we  have  ; 
but  only  that  which  implieth  our  imperfection.  And 
what  Imperfeftlon  can  tiiis  imply  ?  Niy  owv  prefcnt 
knowledge  fliallbe  increafed  beyond  belief:  it  ihall  In- 
deed be  done  away,  but  as  the  light  of  the  Itars  Is  dune 
away  by  the  riling  of  the  fun  ;  which  Is  more  proper- 
ly doing  away  our  ignorance  than  our  knowledge  ; 
indeed  we  fhall  not  know  each  other  after  the  flefh  ; 
but  by  the  image  of  Child,  and  fpiritual  relation, 
and  former  faithfulnefs  In  improving  our  talents,  be- 
yond doubt,  we  fliall  know  and  be  known.  Nor  Is 
it  only  our  old  acqualntdnce,    but  all  the  faints  of  all 

aofes. 


52       The  Saints  Evcrlajling  Rcjl, 

sgL-s,  whofe  faces  in  tlie  flefli  ve  nevtr  faw,  vlom 
vc  fliall  there  both  know  and  comfortably  enjoy. 
Yea,  nnd  ar.gtls  as  well  as  faints  will  be  our  blcfTcd 
acqunintance.  Tliofe  ^vho  now  are  willin^rly  mini- 
fterial  fpirics  for  cur  good,  will  willingly  thcn'be  our 
companions  In  joy  for  the  petfefiiwo  of  oiir  good  :  and 
tliey  vvlio  had  fiich  joy  in  htzstu  for  our  convcrfion, 
>vill  gladly  rejoice  with  us  in  our  gloriiicaiion  I 
tliiuk,  cliriuian,  this  will  be  a  more  honourable  affem- 
bly^  than  ever  you  have  beheld  ;  and  a  more  happy 
fccl^ty  then  you  were  ever  of  before.  Then  we  H'-iill 
tiuly  fay  as  Drjvd^  lima  com/aniov  of  i.Il  ihem  that 
far  ih?^  :  tih.ti  txe  are  come  to  m'juni  Sion,  and  to  the 
cry  tf  the  livhio  ^God,  the  heavef.ly  Jenifakm,  an.i  to 
an  tur.ums'ahle  umpovy  of  (W^els  \  to  the  general  (Jfim- 
hly,  and  church  of  the  Ji-fi  bom,  'which  ore  v:riiitn  in 
hn-oetiy  end  to  God  the  jud^e  of  all,  and  to  the  fpWHi 
'■'/  j'-'fi  ^^"^  made  I'trffB,  and  to  Jefus  the  vtedtntcr  of  the 
r.eiv  covemint.  So  then  1  conclude  :  This  is  one 
finr;rjr.r  cxctllercy  of  the  reft  ofhenven.  That  ii.'e 
are  fedo'xv-clizcr.s  \iith   the  f.intsj  and  of  the  hcufehdd 

f  Gwd. 

4.  Another  excellent  property  of  our  reft  _iv ill  be, 
that  the  joys  of  it  are  immediately  from  God.  IVe 
fo  nil  fee  God  fare  to  face  :  and  ftand  continually  in  his 
jircfcnce  ;  and  confequently  derive  our  life  and  com- 
fort immediately  fiom  him.  Whether  God  will 
make  ufe  of  any  creatures  for  our  fervice  then  ;  or  if 
any,  of  what  creatures,  and  what  ^e  ;  is  more  than 
I  yet  know  :  but  it  is  certain,  that  at  Uaft,  our  great- 
cit  joys  will  be  immediate,  if  not  all.  Now  we  have 
uotliing  at  all  immediatcK',  but  at  the  fecond  or  third 
h.md,  or  how  many  \\\\o  knows  ?  From  the  earth, 
froai  man,  from  the  fun  and  moon,  from  the  Influ- 
ence of  tlie  planets,  from  the  miniftration  of  angels, 
and  fV'MU  t!>e  fpirit  of  Chr'ijl  ;  and  doubtlefs,  the  fur- 
tlicr  the  fticam  runs  from  the  fountain,  the  more  inn- 
pure 


The  Saints  Everhifiiv.g  Rejl,      ^^ 

pure  it  Is.  It  gathers  fome  defilement  from  every  un- 
clean channel  it  paffeth  through.  Though  it  favours 
rot  in  the  hand  of  angels,  of  the  imperfection  of  fin- 
ners,  yet  it  doth  of  the  imperfediion  of  creatures  ;  and 
as  it  comes  from  man,  it  favours  of  both.  How 
quick  and  piercing  is  the  word  in  itfelf !  Yet  many 
times  it  never  enters,  being  managed  by  a  feeble  arm. 
O  what  weight  and  worth  is  there  in  every  pafiage  of 
the  blcifcd  gofpel !  enough,  one  would  think,  to  en- 
ter and  force  the  dulleft  foul,  and  wholly  poiTefs  its 
thoughts  and  aftedlons  :  and  yet  how  oft  doth  it  drop 
as  water  upon  a  ftone  ?  The  things  of  God  which  we 
handle,  are  divine  ;  but  our  manner  of  handi-ng  is 
human  :  and  there  \%  little  or  none  that  ever  wc  touch^g^^ 
but  we  leave  the  print  of  our  fingers  behind  us  ;  birlr 
if  God  fhould  fpeak  this  word  himfclf,  it  would  be  x 
piercing  melting  word  indeed* 

If  an  angel  from  heaven  ruould  preach  the  gofpc!, 
yet  could  he  not  deliver  it  according  to  its  glory  ; 
much  Icfs  we  who  never  faw  what  they  have  feen,  and 
keep  this  treafure  in  earthen  veffels.  The  comforts 
that  flow  through  fcrmons,  facraments,  reading,  con- 
ference, and  creat'ires,  are  but"  half  comforts  ;  in  com- 
parifon  of  thofe  which,  the  Almighty  ftall  fpeak  with 
his  own  mouth,  and  reach  forth  with  his  own  hand. 
The  chrldian  knows  by  experience  now,  that  his  moft 
immediate  joys  arq^Is  fweetefl;  joys  ;  which  have  lealt 
of  man,  and  are  molt  dircftly  from  the  fpiiit.  Tli'it 
i;i  one  reafon,  I  conceive,  why  chrlftlans  who  are 
much  in  fecret  prayer  and  meditation,  are  m.en  of 
greatelt  life  ;  becaiife  they  are  nearer  the  well-hear', 
and  have  all  more  immediately  from  God  lumfclf. 
And  tliat  I  conceive  the  only  reafon,  why  we  are  more 
inulfpofed  to  thofe  fecret  duties,  and  can  eafier  brinc^ 
our  hearts  to  hear  and  read,  than  to  fecret  prayer, 
fclf-examinatlon  and  meditation  ;  bccaufe  in  the  f;^r- 
raer  is.  more  of  man,  and  in  thefe  we  approach  the 
H  3  Lord 


I 


54     77j^  Saints  Evcrlajling  Rejl, 

Lord  alone,  and  our  natures  draw  back  from  the 
moH  fpiiltual  duties.  Not  that  we  fnould  therefore 
ca{\  off  the  other,  atid  negledl  any  ordinance  of  God  : 
to  ]ive  above  lh<fm  wiiile  we  ufe  them,  is  the  wav  of 
a  clniflian.  But  to  live  above  ordinances,  fo  as  ti>  live 
without  them,  is  to  live  without  the  governmenr  of 
Chrill.  It  is  then  we  dial!  have  light  without  a  can- 
dle ;  and  a  perpetual-day  without  the  fun  :  Fcr  its 
city  hath  no  mtd  of  the  fun,  neither  of  the  moon  it 
Jhlne  in  it  :  for  the  glcry  of  Gcd  d'th  lighten  it^  and 
the  Lamb  is  the  li^ht  thereof  Rev.  xxi  23.  Nay, 
Th?'e  fl:all  he  no  li^ht  ihere^  and  they  need  no  candle j 
nor  li^bt  of  the  fun.,  fr  the  Loid  God  givdh  ihem 
light,  ind  they  Jhiiil  rei^r  for  evtr  and  ever.  We  ihall 
then  have  reft  without  deep,  and  be  kept  from  cold 
without  our  cloathing,  snd  need  no  fig-leaves  to  hide 
our  (hame  :  for  God  will  be  our  tetl,  and  Chrill  our 
cloathing  and  fliarae  and  fin  will  ceafe  together. 
We  fliall  then  have  health  without  ph\  fic,  and  flrength 
"without  the  ufe  of  food  ;  for  the  Lord  God  v\ill  be 
our  (Ircngth,  and  the  hght  of  his  countenance  will  be 
health  to  (Hir  iouls,  and  marrow  to  our  bouts.  We 
ihall  then  (  and  never  liilthen)  have  enligiitencd  undcr- 
flaiidinj^'s  wiihoat  fcripture,  and  be  governed  witii- 
ou.  A  AiiLten  law.  For  the  Loid  will  perfe/tt  his 
la\<'  in  our  hearts-  and  we  fhall  be  all  perfcc^.tly  taught 
Df  Ljod  ;  his  own  will  fliall  be  our  law,  and  his  own 
face  (hall  be  our  liglit  for  ever.  We  fliall  then  have 
communion  without  facraments,  when  Chrill  fhall 
drink  vviih  us  of  the  h  nit  of  tlie  vine  new,  that  is,  re- 
frcfli  us  with  the  comforting  wine  of  immediate  frui- 
tion in  the  kingdom  of  his  Father. 

5  'K  further  excellency  of  this  reft  is  this  ;  it  wll! 
be  a  fuitable  reft  :  fuited,  I.  to  our  natures.  2.  to 
our  dtlires.     3.  to  our  ntceffities. 

I.  To 


77j^  Saints  Evcrhifiing  Rcjl,      55 

1.  To  our  natures.  If  fultabknefs  concur  not  with 
excellency,  the  heft  things  may  be  bad  to  us;  for  It 
is  not  that  which  makts  things  good  in  themfelves, 
to  be  good  to  us.  In  our  choice  of  friends,  we  oft 
pafs  by  the  more  excellent,  to  choofe  the  more  fuita- 
b!e  ;  every  good  agrees  not  with  every  nature.  The 
choiceft  dainties  which  we  feed  upon  ourfclves,  would 
be  to  our  beads,  as  an  unpleafing,  fo  an  infufficicnt 
fullenance. 

Now  here  Is  fuitablcnefs  and  excellency  conjoined. 
T!ie  new  nature  of  the  faints  doth  fuit  their  fpirits  to 
this  rell  :  and  indeed  their  holintfs  is  nothing,  elfe  but 
a  fparlc  taken  from  this  element,  and  by  the  fpirit  of 
Ciirill  kindled  in  their  hearts,  the  flame  whereof,  as 
mindful  of  its  divine  original,  doth  ever  mount  aloft, 
and  tend  to  the  place  from  whence  It  comes.  Gold  and 
cartlily  glory,  temporal  crowns  and  kingdoms,  could 
not  make  a  reft  for  faints.  As  they  were  not  redeem- 
ed ^vith  fo  low  a  price,  fo  neither  are  they  endued 
witn  fo  low  a  nature.  As  God  will  have  from  theiu 
a  fpirltual  worPaip,  fuitable  to  his  own  fpl.itaai  be- 
ing ;  fo  will  he  provide  tiiem  a  fpirltual  reit,  fuitable 
to  his  people's  fpirltual  nature. 

A  heaven  of  the  knowledge  of  God,  and  his  Chrld; 
and  a  deliglitful  complacency  in  that  mutual  love,  and 
everlafting  rejoicing  In  the  fruition  of  our  God,  a 
perpetual  finging  of  his  high  praifes  :  this  is  a  heaven 
for  a  faint :  a  fpirltual  reft,  fuitable  to  a  fpiritual  na- 
ture, rhen  we  ftiall  live  in  our  element.  We  are 
HOW  as  the  fifh  in  fome  fmall  vefl'el  of  water,  that 
hath  only  fo  much  as  will  keep  him  alive  :  but  wh^t 
is  that  to  the  full  ocean  ?  We  have  a  little  air  let  Into 
us  to  afford  us  breathing  :  but  what  Is  that  to  the 
fweet  and  frefti  gales  upon  mount  S'lon?  We  have  a 
bean:i  of  the  fun  to  lighten  our  darkncfs,  and  a  warm 

I  ay 


56      77?^  Sdh.iJ  Everlafthig  RlJI. 

ray  to  keep  us  from  frcczinj^  :  but  then  we  fhall  live 
in  it^  light,   and  be  revived  by  its  heat  for  ever. 

2.  It  is  fullaLle  to  the  defires  of  the  faints:  for 
fuch  as  is  their  nature,  fuch  are  their  dclires ;  and 
fuch  as  their  dtliies,  fuch  will  be  their  reft.  Indeed 
we  have  now  a  mixed  nature  ;  and  from  contrary  prin- 
ciples, arife  contrary  defires.  But  it  is  the  dtlires  of 
our  renewed  nature,  which  this  reft  is  fuited  to. 
Whilft  our  defires  remain  corrupt  and  mifgulded,  it  is 
a  far  greater  mercy  to  deny,  yea,  to  dtflroy  them, 
than  to  falitfy  tliem  :  but  tliofe  wliich  are  IpirituaV 
are  of  his  own  planting,  and  he  will  furely  water 
them,  and  give  the  incrcafc.  He  quickened  our  hun- 
ger  and  thirft  for  righteoufnefs,  that  he  might  make 
us  hapjiy  in  a  full  fatibfai'tion. 

Chriftian,  this  is  a  reft  after  thy  own  heart ;  it  con- 
talr.vith  all  that  thy  heart  can  wifh,  that  wlu'ch  thou 
longeft  ^^\^  prayeft  for,  laboureft  for,  tiiere  thou  Oialt 
find  it  all.  Thou  hadll  rather  have  God  in  ChrilT, 
than  all  the  v^'orld  :  why  there  thou  ftialt  have  him. 
Defire  what  thou  cnnft,  and  aflc  what  thou  wilt,  as  a 
chriftian,  and  it  fliall  he  given  thee  ;  not  only  to  half 
of  the  kingdom,  but  to  th?  enjoyment  of  both  king- 
dom and  king.  Tin's  is  a  life  of  dcfne  and  prayer  j 
but  that  is  a  life  of  fatisfaciion  and  enjoyment. 

3.  This  reft  is  fuita^)le  to  the  fainfs  neccfficies  alfo, 
as  v.ell  as  to  their  naUires  and  dcfires.  It  contains 
whatfocver  they  truly  wanted  ;  not  fupplying  them 
with  grofs  created  comfotts,  which,  like  S^^ui's  ar- 
mour on  Diviiy  are  more  burden  than  benefit :  but 
they  fiiall  there  have  the  benefit  without  tlic  burden  ; 
and  tlie  pure  fpirits  cxtradled  (as  it  were'  ftiall  make 
up  their  cordial,  without  the  mixture  of  any  diuffy 
or  eartlily  fubllance.  It  was  Ciiiilt  and  perfcd.  holi- 
r.L-fs,  which  tlicy  nioft  netded,  and  with  thefe  ih^ll 
they  be  fupplicd.  4.  Another 


The  Saints  Everlaftlng  Rsjl.      57 

4.  Another  excellency  ofour  reft  will  be  this,  that 
it  will  be  abfolntcly  petfeit  and  complete;  and  this 
both  In  the  fincerity  and  univerHility  of  it.  We  fhall 
th-n  Itave  joy  without  f)rro\v,  and  red  without  wea- 
rint- fs  ;  as  there  is  no  mixture  of  our  corruption  with 
our  graces,  fo  no  mixtute  of  fiilTerin'^s  with  our  fo- 
lace  :  there  is  none  of  thefe  waves  in  that  liarbour, 
which  now  tofs  us  up  and  down.  To-day  we  are 
Well,  to  morrow  lick  :  to-day  in  efteem,  to-morrow 
in  difgrace  :  to-day  we  have  friends,  to  morrow  none  : 
nay,  we  have  wine  and  vinegar  in  the  fame  cup.  If 
revelation  fhould  raife  us  up  to  the  thiid  heaven,  the 
mefTcnger  of  Satan  mufl  prefently  btjfFet  ns  :  but  there 
is  none  of  this  inconliancy  in  heaven,  If  pei  fe(ft  love 
cad  out  fear  ;  then  perfect  joy  miiil  needs  call  outfor- 
row,  and  perfcit  happinefs  exclude  all  the  relicks  of 
mlfery.  There  will  be  an  univerfal  perftfting  of  all 
our  parts  and  powers,  and  an  univerfal  removal  of  all 
our  evils.  And  thou;^Hi  the  pofitive  part  be  the  fweet- 
ed,  and  that  which  draws  ihe  other  after  it,  even  as 
the  rifing  of  the  fun  excludes  the  darkncfs  ;  yet  is  not 
the  negative  part  to  be  flighted,  even  our  freedom 
from  fo  many  and  great  calamities.  Let  us  therefore 
look  over  thefe  more  puadlually,  and  fee  what  it  is  we 
Hiall  there  reft  from.  In  genevrd,  it  is  from  all  evil, 
Pavticulaily,  F'lrji^  from  fm.     Sscondly,  fuiTeiing. 

Firjl,  It  excludeth  notliing  more  diretrly  than  fin  ; 
whether  original,  and  of  nature;  or  actual,  and  of 
con  ver  fat  Ion  ;  for  there  enieretb  nothing;  that  dtfikth, 
nor  that  nvcrketJj  ahomhialiGn^  nor  that  maktih  a  11: 
V/liat  need  Chrift  have  died,  if  heaven  could  have 
contained  imperfe£l  fouls?  For  to  this  end  came  he  into 
the  ixorld^  that  he  mi^ht  put  away  the  nvorks  of  the  de- 
inl.  His  blood  and  fpiilt  have  not  done  all  this,  to 
leave  us  after  all,  defiled.  For  ii^hat  commurA'jn  hith 
light  with  darknefs  ?  And  what  fellowjhip  hath  Chrift: 
,  with   Belial  ?  He  that  hath  prepared  for  fin  the  tor- 

n:er.t3 


58       The  Saints  Everlajiing  Rcjl. 

ments  of  hell,  will  never  admit  it  into  the  blcflVdnefff 
of  heaven.  Therefore,  chrillian,  never  fear  this:  if 
thou  be  once  in  htaven,  thou  (halt  fin  no  moie.  Is 
not  this  glad  news  to  thee,  who  haft  prayed,  and 
watched,  and  laboured  agalnft:  it  fo  long  ?  I  know, 
\x  it  were  offered  to  thy  choice,  thou  wouldft  rather 
choofe  to  be  fited  from  fin,  than  to  be  made  lieir  of 
the  VTorld.  Thou  (halt  have  thy  defirc :  that  hard 
htart,  thofe  vile  thoi;^',hts,  which  thou  conldft  no  more 
leave  behuiu  thee,  than  leave  thyfclf  behind  thee,  (hall 
be  now  left  behind  for  ever.  If  they  accompany  thee 
to  death,  they  canaot  proceed  a  Hep  further.  Tliy 
underftanding  Oiall  never  more  be  troubled  with  dark- 
nefs :  ignorance  and  error  are  inconfilie^jU  with  this 
light.  Now  tliou  walkert  like  a  man  in  tht  twilight, 
evtr  afiaid  of  being  out  of  the  way  :  but  then  will 
all  darkntfs  be  difpeiitd,  and  our  blind  underliandings 
fully  opened. 

O  wlnnt  would  we  give  to  know  clearly  all  the  pro- 
found myfteries  in  the  do£^rine  of  redemption,  ofjufr 
tificaiion,  of  the  nature  of  grace,  of  the  divine  at- 
tributes !  \^'hat  would  we  give  to  fee  all  dark  fcrip- 
turcs  made  plain  ;  to  fee  all  teeming  contradiftioas 
reconciled!  Why,  when  glory  hath  taken  away  the 
veil  fr(;m  our  eyes,  all  tliis  will  be  known  In  a  mo- 
ment ;  we  fhall  then  fee  cltarly  into  all  the  contro- 
vcrlics  about  do<^rine  or  difcipline  that  now  perplex 
us.  The  pooreft  chridian  is  prefeutly  there  a  more 
perfect  divine,  than  any  is  here.  We  are  now  through 
our  ignorance  fubjtdt  to  fuch  mutability,  that  in 
pointB  not  fundamental,  v\  e  change  as  the  moon  :  but 
when  once  our  ignorance  is  pcrfedlly  healed,  then  fliall 
\vc  be  fettled,  refolved  men  ;  then  (hall  our  reproach 
be  t-iken  from  us,  and  we  ihall  never  change  our 
judgment  more.  Our  ignorance  now  doth  lead  us 
int«  error,  t<^  :he  grief  of  iMir  moie  knowing  brethren, 
to  the  dillurbing  the  chuich's  quiet,  to  the   fcanda- 

lizing 


The  Saints  EverlaJIirig  Rejf.      ^g 

JizJng  of  others,  and  weakening"  ourfelves.  How  ma- 
ny a  faithful  foul  is  feduccd  into  error  !  Loth  thty 
are  to  err,  God  knows  ;  afid  therefore  read  and  p'ay, 
and  yet  err  ilill.  And  in  kfTer  and  more  difficult 
points,   how  can  it  be  dtherv.ifc  ? 

Can  it  be 'expected,  that  men  void  of  learning  and 
{Irength  of  parts,  unftudied  and  untauglit,  ffloiild  at 
tlie  firft  onfet  know  thofe  truths,  which  they  are  al- 
moll  incapable  of  knowing  at  all?  When  the  great- 
eft  divines  of  cleared  jud^rment  acknowledge  fo  much 
difficulty,  that  they  could  almoft  find  in  tlu  ir  hearts, 
fometimes  to  profefs  them  quite  beyond  their  reach. 
But  O  that  happy  approaching  day,  when  error  fhall 
vanifh  away  for  ever,  when  our  underitanding  fhall 
be  filled  witl»  God  himfclf,  whofe  light  will  leave  no 
darknefs  in  us!  His  face  fliall  be  the  fcripture,  where 
v/e  fliall  read  the  truth  :  and  himfelf  inftead  of  teach- 
ers and  counfcUors,  to  perfefl  our  underftandings, 
and  acquaint  us  wfvh  himfelf.  No  more  error,  no 
more  fcandal  to  others,  no  more  difqulet  to  our  own 
fpirits,  no  more  miftaken  zeal  fox  faliehood.  Many 
e  good  man  hath  here  in  his  millaken  zeal,  been  a 
means  to  deceive  and  pervert  his  brethren  ;  and  when 
he  fees  1ms  own  error,  cannot  a  »ain  ttll  how  to  unde- 
ceive them  :  but  there  we  fhall  all  confpire  in  one 
truth,  as  being  one  m  him  who  is  ttie  truth. 

And  as  we  fhall  refl  from  all  the  fin  of  our  under- 
ft.indings,  -fo  of  our  wills,  affediions  and  converfation, 
Wr  fhall  no  more  retain  this  rebelling  pjinciple,  which 
is  Hill  withdrawing  us  from  God.  We  fhail  no  more 
b'^  opprefTcd  witri  the  power  of  our  corruptions,  nor 
vexed  wiih  their  ptrAnce:  no  pride,  palTion,  floth- 
fiilncfs,  fenfr-leffiH-rs  fhall  enter  wiih  us;  no  flrange- 
n>  is  to  God,  ami  tilings  of  God  ;  no  coldnefs  of 
jiiiov^ions,  nor  imperieCtions  in  <iur  luve  ;  no  uneven 
*'alkin^,  nor  giieviog   of  the   ^piitj  no  fcan^laluus 

adicn. 


6o      TToe  Saints  Everlajling  Rejl, 

aftion,  or  unholy  converfation  :  we  fiiall  rtft  from  nil  . 
thefe  for  ever.  i  hen  fhall  out  uiidcrlUndings  receive 
their  light  from  the  face  of  God,  as  the  full  moon 
from  the  open  fun  :  then  fhall  our  wills  correfpond  to 
the  divine  will,  as  face  anfwers  face  in  ike  ghifi  ;  and 
liis  will  fliall  be  our  law  and  rule,  from  which  we 
fhall  never  fwerve  again.  I  conclude  therefore  with 
the  wards  next  my  text,  He  th.ii  ts  entere  i  into  his  nj}^ 
hath  ceajed  from  bis  oivn  *works^  us  Gud  from  his.  60 
that  there  is  a  peifeft  reft  from  fin. 

Secondly,  It  is  a  peifecTl  reft  from  fuffering.  When 
the  caufe  U  gone,  the  eftlct  ceafctli  Our  fufftiings 
Hwere  but  the  confequents  of  our  finning,  and  here 
they  both  fliall  ceafe  together. 

I.  We  (hall  reft  from  ail  the  temptations  of  Satan. 
VVhat  a  grief  is  it  to  a  chrillian,  though  he  yield  not 
to  the  temptation,  yet  to  be  (ilU  folicited  to  deny  his 
Lord  ?  1  hat  fueh  a  thought  fnould  be  caft  into  his 
htart  ?  That  he  can  let  about  nothing  that  is  good, 
but  SiUan  is  ftill  dilihading  hi.n  from  it,  difti acting 
him  in  it,  or  difcouraging  him  after  it?  What  a  tor- 
ment, as  well  as  a  temptation  Is  it,  to  have  fuch 
horrid  motions  made  to  his  foul  ?  iSometime  cruel 
thoughts  of  God  ;  fometime  undervaluing  thoughts 
of  Chrift;  fometime  unbelieving  thouglits  of  fcripture  j 
fometime  Injurious  thoughts  of  Providence  :  to  be 
tempted  fometime  to  turn  to  prefent  things;  fome- 
time to  play  vv'ith  tiic  baits  of  iiii  ;  fometime  to  ven- 
ture on  the  delights  ot  the  fiefla  ;  and  fometime  to 
/itheilm  Itftlf  ?  Efpecially  when  we  know  the  treache- 
ry of  our  own  hearts,  liiat  they  are' as  tinder,  ready  to 
take  hre,  as  foon  as  one  of  thefe  fparks  fhall  fail  upon 
them  :  but  when  the  day  of  our  deliverance  comes, 
we  fliall  fully  reft  from  thefe  temptations  :  Sutan  is 
then  bound  up,  the  time  of  tempting  is  done ;  the 
time  of  torment  to  hirafclf,  and  his  conqutrtd  cap« 

tives. 


m 


The  Saints  Everlafting  Ref^,      6  i 

tives,  Is  then  come  ;  and  the  vI£loii*ous  faints  fhall 
have  triumph  from  tempLatlon.  Now  we  v/alk  amon.-r 
his  fnares,  and  are  in  danger  to  be  circumvented  A'ith 
his  wiles  :  but  then  we  are  quite  above  his  fnares. 
,He  hath  power  here  to  tempt  U;.  in  the  wildernefs,  but 
he  entereth  not  the  holy  city  :  he  may  fet  us  on  tlie 
pinacle  of  the  temple  in  the  eart'hly  Jeruf.km,  but  the 
ntw  Jerufuhm  he  may  not  approach.  Perhaps  he  may 
bring  us  to  an  exceeding  hioh  mountain  ;  but  the 
mount  Sion,  and  city  of  the  living  God,  he  cannot 
afcend.  Or  if  he  (hould,  yet  all  the  kingdoms  of  the 
world,  and  the  glory  of  them,  would  be  but  a  poor 
bait  to  the  foul  which  is  pofTeirtd  of  the  kingdom  of 
our  Lord. 

2.  We  fhall  left  From  all  our  temptations  which  vve 
ftow  undergo  from  the  world  andihe  fieOi,  as  well  as 
Satan  :  and  that  is  a  number  incxpreffiblc.  O  the 
hourly  dangers  that  we  here  walk  in  !  Every  fenfe  is 
a  fnare  ;  every  member  a  fnare ;  every  crtature  a 
fnare  ;  eve  y  mercy  a  fnare;  and  every  duty  a  fnare 
to  us.  VVe  can  fcarce  open  our  eyes  but  we  are  ia 
<ianger  :  if  we  behold  them  above  us,  we  are  in  d^U' 
ger  of  envy  :  If  we  fee  fumptuous  buildings,  plcuf^t 
habitations,  honour  and  riches,  we  are  In  dang. -r  to 
be  drawn  away  with  covetous  defires  :  If  the  rags  alid 
beggary  of  others,  we  are  In  danger  of  felf  applaud- 
ing thoughts  or  unmerclfulnefs  ;  if  we  fee  beauty,  it 
is  a  bait  to  luft  ;  if  deformity,  to  loathing  and  dlf- 
d:n'n.  We  can  fcarcely  hear  a  word  fpoken,  but  con- 
tains to  us  matter  of  temptation.  Hew  foon  do  fJan- 
derous  repotts,  vain  jefts,  or  wanton  fpeeclcb  creep 
into  the  heart  ?  How  lirung  and  prevalent  a  tempta- 
tion is  our  appetite  ?  And  how  conllant  and  fttong  a 
watch  doth  it  require  ?  Have  we  comelinefs  andfbeau- 
ty  I  what  fuel  for  pride  !  Are  we  deformed  ?  \\\m^  in  '' 
occafion  of  repining  !  Have  we  ftrength  of  reafon  and 
i earning  ?  0  how  haid  is  It  not  to  be  ^uftcd  up  !  to 
F  hunt 


62     The  'Saints  EverlaJ}ing  Rejt, 

hunt  after  appUufe  ?  to  dtfplfe  our  brethren  ?  Are  we 
unlearned,  of  fhallow  heads,  and  flendtr  parts  ?  How 
apt  then  to  defpife  what  we  have  not  ?  And  to  under- 
value that  which  we  do  not  know  ?  And  to  err  with 
confidence,  bccaufe  of  our  ignorance  ?  And  if  con- 
ceitednefs  and  pride  do  but  ftrike  in,  to  bcconric  a 
zealous  enemy  to  truth,  and  a  leading^troubler  of  the 
church's  peace,  under  pretences  of  truth  ?  Are  we  men 
of  emineucy  and  authority?  How  ftrong  is  our  temp- 
tation to  flight  our  brethren  ?  to  abufe  our  trull  ?  to 
feek  ourfelves  ?  to  (land  upon  our  honour  and  privi- 
leges ?  to  forget  ourfelves,  our  poor  brethren,  and  the 
public  good  ?  how  hard  to  devote  our  power  to  his 
glory,  fiom  whom  we  have  received  it  ?  how  prone 
to  make  our  wills  our  law  ?  Are  we  inferiors  ?  how 
prone  to  grudge  at  others  pre-eminence  ?  and  to  bring 
their  actions  tothebar  of  our  judgment.''  /".re  Tve 
rich,  and  not  too  much  exalted  ?  Are  we  poor  and 
not  difcontented  ?  Do  we  fet  upon  duties  ?  they  are 
fnares  too  :  cither  we  are  (lupid  and  lazy,  or  reft  in 
them,  and  turn  from  Chrill.  In  a  word,  not  one 
word  that  falls  from  the  mouth  of  a  minifter  or  chri- 
ilian,  but  is  a  fnare  ;  nor  a  place  we  come  into  ;  not  a 
word  that  our  tongues  fpcak,  not  any  mercy  we  pof- 
fefs,  nor  a  bit  we  put  into  our  mouths,  but  they  are 
fnares  ;  not  that  God  hath  made  them  fo,  but  through 
our  own  corruption  they  become  fo  to  us.  So  that 
what  a  fad  cafe  are  we  in  ?  efpeciall)  they  that  dif- 
cern  them  not  ?  For  it  is  almoft  impoflible  they  fhould 
efc<;pe  them.      It   was  not  for  nothing   thr.t  our  Lord 

•cried  out,  14  hat  I  jay  to  one  ^  I  Jay  to  all,  ivatch.  We 
are   like  the  lepers  at    Samaria^   Ij  ive  go  into  ihe  c'ltyy 

.  there  is  nothing  but  janv.tie  ;  if  ix.h  fit  Jliliy   <\\.e peripo. 

But  for  ever  bleffed  be  omnipotent  love,  which 
ffaves  us  out  of  allthele,  and  makes  our  ftraitsbut  the 
,advantag<  s  of  the  ^lory  of  his  grace!  And.  bitf^'d  be 
^iJje  sLoidf  uho  hath  not  ^ivcnour  Jouisfor  a  prey:  our 

fold 


The  Saints  Everhjliiig  Rc/l:     63 

fiuf  is  efcaped  as  a  bird  out  qJ  the  fnare  of  the  fowler  ;. 
tks  fnare  is  brnkfti  and  "tve  are  efcaped.  Now,  our. 
huufes,  our  clothes,  our  fleep,  our  food,  our  phyfic, 
our  father,  mother,  wife,  children,  friends,  goods, 
land-i,  are  all  fo  many  tempt-^fons  ;  and  ourfclves  tiic 
greateft  fnare  to  ourfelves  :  but  in  heaven,  the  danger 
and  trouble  is  over  :  there  is  nothing  but  what  will 
advance  our  joy.  Now  every  companion  is  beckon- 
ing us  to  fin,  and  we  can  fcarce  tell  how  to  fay  to 
th'.-m,  nay  :  but  our  red  will  free  us  from  all  tbcfe. 
As  Satan  hath  no  entrance  there,  fo  neither  any  thing 
to  ftrve  his  malice  :  but  all  things  there  with  us  con- 
fpirethe  praifes  of  our  great  Dwlivuver. 

3.  And  as  we  reft  from  temptations,  fo  alfo  from 
a.U  ahufes  and  peifecutions  which  v.-e  fnffer  at  the 
hands  of  wicked  men.  We  fiiall  be  fcorned,  derided, 
imprirontd,  banifhed  by  them  no  more  ;  the  prayers 
of  the  fouls  under  the  altar  will  then  be  anfvvered,  and 
God  It'///  avenge  their  blood  on  thofe  that  dijuell  on  the 
earth.  This  is  the  time  for  crowning  with  thorns, 
buffeting,  fpitring  on  :  that  is  the  time  for  crowning 
with  glory.  Now  the  law  is  decreed  on,  That  >u<ho- 
faeiyer  riiil  Hie  gocly  in  Chriil  Jcfus,  Jhad  f^'jf^^^ 
psrfecutinns  :  then  ihty  that  fii^'ered  with  him^  J^">^^ii  be 
ghrif.ed  njiihh  him.  Now  we  muft  be  hated  of  all  men 
for  Chrift's  name  fake :  then  <zii//  Chriil  be  ad' 
mired  in  his  faints  that  were  thus  hated.  We  are  liere 
as  the  fcorn  and  ofTrcouring  of  all  things;  as  mf.ri 
fet  up  for  a  gazing-llock  to  angels  and  men,  even  for 
{igns  and  wonders  amonglt  proftifing  chrillians  ;  they 
put  us  out  of  their  fynagogues,  and  call  out  our  name 
as  fvll.  and  feparate  us  from  their  company  :  but  we 
fliall  then  be  as  much  gazed  at  for  our  giory,  and  thev 
will  be  fliut  out  of  the  church  of  the  faints,  and  fepa- 
rated  from  us,  whether  they  will  or  no.  Tliey  now 
think  itflrange  that  "ji'e  run  not  Tjuiih  them  to  all  exccfs 
of  riot :  they  will  tbeu  think  more  ftrange   that  they 

ran 


^4      The  Shunts  Evo  lajiing  Rejl, 

ran  not  with  us  in  the  defpifed  ways  of  God.  We 
can  now  fcarce  pray  Jn  our  families,  or  fing  praife  to 
God,  but  our  voice  is  a  vexation  :to  them  :  how  muft 
it  tornncnt  tliem  then,  to  fee  us  pj-iiifing  and  rejoicing, 
while  they  are  hcnvling  and  lamenting  ? 

Brethren,  you  that  now  can  attempt  no  work  of 
God  without  nfiftance,  and  find  you  muft  either  lofe 
the  love  of  the  world,  and  your  outward  comfrnts,  or 
dfe  the  love  of  God  and  your  eternal  falvation  ; 
confider  you  fhall  in  heaven  have  no  difcouraging 
company,  noraiiy  but  thofe  who  will  further  your  work, 
nnd  glffily  join  heart  and  voice  with  you  in  your 
cverlailing  joy  and  praife.  Till  then,  fojfffs  y9ur  fouls 
iA  patierice '.  bind  al!  reproaches  as  a  crown  to  your 
htads  :  eftecm  them  greater  riches  than  the  world's 
treafurc:  :  accoi-nt  h  matter  ^f  j'y  I'hcn  ye  full  irAo  Iribu' 
iot'wn.  You  have  feen  that  our  God  is  able  to  deli- 
ver u?  ;  but  this  is  nothing  to  our  final  deliverance  : 
i:f  zi'ill  recompffff  tribulnt:o>i  to  them  that  trouble  you  ;  and 
t:)  you  that  are  i'rouhlsd,  reft  ii'Uh  Chrift. 

4.  We  fhall  then  alfo  reft  from  all  our  fad  divlfions 
and  unchriRIan  quarrels  with  one  another.  As  he 
faid,  who  faw  the  carcafes  lie  together,  as  if  they  had 
embraced  each  other,  who  had  been  flain  by  each 
other  in.  a  duel:  *'  How  lovingly  do  they  embrace 
*'  or.c  another,  who  periHicd  through  their  mutual 
*'  enmity  !"  So,  how  lovingly  do  thoufands  live  to- 
•^elher  in  heaven,  whp  lived  in  divifions  on  earth  ! 
As  he  faid,  who  beheld  how  quietly  and  peaceably 
the  bcuies  '^.w^i  dtift  of  m.ortal  enemies  did  lie  together, 
*»  yau  did  :u;t  live  together  'fo  peaceably.'*  So  we 
may  fay  cf  naikitudes  in  heaven  now  all  of  one  mind, 
one  heart,  and  one  employment,  you  lived  not  on 
earth  in  fo  fwtct  familiarity.  There  is  no  conten- 
tion, becaufe  none  of  this  pride,  ignorance,  or  other 
corruption :  Paul  a:!C  B^r.ahcis  arc  now  fully  reconciled. 

There 


The  Saints  EverJafcing  Rcjl,      65 

There  they  are  not  every  man  conceited  of  his  own 
undcrllanding,  and  in  love  with  the  iiTue  of  his  own 
brain  ;  but  all  admiring  the  divine  perfection,  and  in 
love  with  God,  and  one  another.  As  old  Gryneus 
wrote  to  his  friend,  "  If  1  fee  you  no  more  on  earth, 
yet  we  fliall  there  meet,  where  Luther  and  Zuingl'ius 
are  now  well  agieed."  There  is  no  recording  our 
brethren's  infirmities  ;  nor  raking  into  the  fores  which 
Chrift  died  to  heal.  There  is  no  plotting  to  ilrengthen 
our  party;  nor  deep  defigning  againll  our  brethren* 

And  is  it  not  a  fliame  and  pity,  that  our  courfc  h 
now  fo  contrary  ?  Surely,  if  there  be  forrow  or  fhanic 
in  heaven,  we  fhall  then  be  both  forry  and  afhamed  to 
look  one  another  in  the  face  :  and  to  remember  ail 
this  carriage  on  earth,  even  as  the  brethren  of  Jofeph 
were  to  behold  him,  when  they  remembered  tlieir 
former  unkind  ufage.  Is  it  not  enough  that  all  the 
world  is  againft  us,  but  we  mud  alfo  be  againft  our- 
felves  ?  Did  I  ever  think  to  have  heard  chrillians  {\y 
to  reproach  and  fcorn  chriftians?  Atid  men  profiling 
the  fear  of  God,  to  make  fo  little  confcience  of  cen- 
furing,  vilifying,  and  difg racing  one  another?  O 
what  hellifli  tilings  are  ignorance  and  pride,  that  caa 
bring  men's  fouls  to  fuch  a  cafe  as  this  !  Faul  knew 
what  he  faid,  vv'hcn  he  commanded,  that  a  novice 
Jhould  not  be  a  teacher,  lejl  being  lifted  up  he  fall  into 
the  condemnation  cf  the  devil y  i  Tim.  iil.  6.  He  dif- 
cerned  that  fuch  young  chrillians  that  have  got  but  a 
little  fmattering  knowledge  in  religion,  lie  in  great- 
eil  danger  of  this  pride  and  condemnation.  Who  but 
Paul  could  have  forefeen  that  among  the  very  teachers 
and  governors  of  fo  choice  a  church  as  Ephtjus^  there 
were  iome  that  afterwards  (liould  be  notorious  feil- 
mafters  ?  That  of  ibetr  onvn  f elves  men  JJjould  arife^ 
Jpeaking  perverfe  things,  to  draw  aiuay  dijcipUs  afur 
tbem,  Adls  xx.  30,  Who  thea  can  expert  better  From 
F  2  an/ 


66      lljc  Saints  Lvcrlojlin^  Rcfl. 

any  fuciety  now,  how  knowing  amilioly  focver  ?  To- 
c]av  tlicy  may  be  unanimous,  and  joiritd  in  love  ;  and 
perliapb  within  a  few  weeks  be  divided,  ar.d  at  bitter 
enmity,  thiou^h  their  doating  on  qneltions  that  tend 

not  to  codify. 

5.  We  {iiall  then  reft  from  all  which  we  now  un- 
dergo, by  piiriicipatiug  with  our  brethren  in  their 
calaaiitiet;.  Aias,  if  we  had  nothing  upon  ouvfelves 
to  trouble  us,  yet  what  hearl  could  I'ay  afide  forrows, 
that  lives  in  the  found  of  the  church's  fiifferings?  If 
job  liad  nothing  upon  his  body  to  difqniet  him,  yet 
the  rneflagc  of  his  children's  oveitlirow  inuil  needs 
grieve  the  moft  patient  foul.  Except  we  arc  tunud 
'into  lUel  or  lioue,  and  have  loft  'both  chriftian  and 
•Itiiman  aiFt:6ticn,  there  needs  no  more  than  tlie  mife- 
iles'  of  our  brethren  to  fill  our  h.carts  with  forrow:j. 
The  clrjich  on  earth  is  a  mere  hofpital ;  which  way 
iov.^ver  we  go,  we  hear  comphn'nmg  ;  and  into  what 
cornel  ioevcr  we  cait  oui  eyes,  we  behold  obje<5ls  of 
pity  :  fome  groaning  under  a  dark  underftandiug, 
fome  under  a  fenfelefs  heart,  fome  languiftiing  under 
\ji'f'njitful  weakneff,  and  fome  bleeding  for  mifcarrl- 
ages  and  wilfu!nefs,  and  fome  in  a  lethargy,  that  they 
are  pall  coniplaining  ;  fome  crying  out  of  their  pin- 
ing poverty  ;  fome  groaning  under  pains  and  infirmi- 
fcr;,  and  fome  bewailing  a  whole  catalogue  of  calami- 
ties, efpeci;dly  in  days  of  common  fulferings  :•  but 
oar  day  of  reil  v^  ill  free  us  and  them  ficm  all  this. 
•Now  we  may  enter  many  a  poor  chiillian's  cottage, 
'and  fee  poverty  poffelTing  and  filh'n^  all  :  how  much 
better  is  that  day,  when  we  (hall  fee  them  filled  with 
Chrili,  cloath^'d  with  gloiy,  and  equal  with  the 
greatcil  priuces  ? 

But  a  far  greater  grief  it   Is  to  our  fpirits,   to  fee 
the  fpirituai  imf-^iicti  of  our  bictlwen;  to  fee  fuch  an 

OliC 


The  Saints  Ei^erlnfing  Rejl.      67 

fme,  with  whom  we  took  fwcet  counfc^I,  now  falh\ig 
ofF  to  fc-nfiiah'ty,  turned  drunkard,  worldling,  or  a 
pcrfecutor,  and  thcfe  trying  times  have  given  us  too 
large  occaiion  fvir  fnch  forrows  ;  to  fee  our  deareft 
friends  turned  afide  from  the  ttuth  of  Chrift,  and  con- 
fident in  the  flefh,  continue  their  negle(^^  of  Chrift  and 
their  fouls,  and  nothing  waking  tliem  out  of  their  fe- 
curity  ;  and  to  think  how  ceitainly  they  (hall  be  in 
hell  for  ever,  if  tliey  die  in  their  prefent  iUte  :  and 
will  it  not  be  a  bleffed  day,  when  we  (hall  reft  from 
all  thefe  forrows  ?  IVhm  the  pecph  [hall  he  oil  r'tghleout, 
even  the  --lork  cf  God's  hanrls,  the  branch  of  his  plant- 
innr,  thai  he  mjy  be  glorifitd  ?  Thus  fliall  we  reft  from 
cur  participation  of  our  brcthien's  fulfeiings. 

6.  We  fhall  reft  from  all  our  pcrfonal  fuffering?. 
And  though  tfiis  may  feem  a  fmall  thing  to  thofe  that 
live  in  continual  eafe,  and  abound  in  all  kind  of  prof- 
])erity  ;  yet  methinks,  to  the  daily  afEifted  foul,  it 
fhould  make  the  fore-thoughts  of  heaven  delightful  : 
and  I  think  I  ftiall  meet  with  few  of  the  faints,  but 
will  fay,  that  this  is  their  own  cafe. 

Though  we  are  reconciled  by  the  blood  of  the  co- 
venant, and  the  price  v,  paid  for  our  full  deliverance  ; 
yet  our  Redeemer  fe^^s -fit  to  leave  this  meafure  of  mi- 
fcry  upon  us,  to  mind  us  of  what  we  would  tlfe  for- 
get ;  to  be  ferviceable  to  h.is  wife  and  gracious  dc  figns, 
and  advantageous  to  our  full  and  final  recovery.  As 
all  our  fenfes  are  the  inlets  of  fin  ;  fo  they  are  the  in- 
lets of  forrow.  Grief  creeps  in  at  our  eyes,  at  our 
ears,  and  ahnoft  every  where  :  it  fclzeth  upon  our 
head,  our  hearts,  our  iiefh,  our  fpiritb  :  and  what  part 
doth  efcape  it  ?  fears  devour  us  and  darken  our  de- 
lights, as  the  froft  nips  the  buJs  :  cares  ftcd  upon  our 
fpirits,  as  the  fcorching  fun  dotli  wit'icr  tlie  delicate 
ilowers.  Or,  if  any  hath  fortified  his  inwards  againft 
tliffc,  yet  \ic  is  naked  Itili  wilhoiU. 


68      The  Saints  Everlajllng  R.^jl. 

What  tender  pieces  are  thefe  dufty  bodies?  Vv^hat 
brittle  glafTes  do  we  bear  about  us?  And  how  many 
thoufand  dangers  are  they  hurried  through  ?  Andliow 
hardly  cured  \i  once  cracked  ?  O  the  multitude  of 
{lender  veins,  of  tender  membranes,  nerves,  fibres, 
roufcles,  arteries;  and  all  fubjed:  to  obftrudlons,  ten- 
fions,  contractions,  refolutlons,  ruptures,  or  one 
thing  or  other  to  caufe  their  grief !  Every  one  Is  a 
fit  fubjeft  for  pain,  and  fit  to  communicate  that  pain 
to  the  whole  :  but  fin,  and  flcfh,  and  dull,  and  pain, 
will  all  be  left  behind  together. 

O  the  blefTcd  tranquillity  of  that  region,  whers 
there  is  nothing  but  fweet  continued  peace  !  No  fuc- 
cefiion  of  joy  there,  becaufe  no  iutermilTion.  Our 
lives  will  be  but  one  joy,  as  our  time  v^'ill  be  chang- 
ed into  one  eternity.  O  healthful  place^  wheie  none 
are  fick  !  O  fortunate  land,  where  all  are  kings  !  O 
place  moll:  holy,  where  all  are  prieft^  !  How  free  a 
.ilate,  where  none  are  fervants,  fave  to  their  fupreme 
jjjionatch  !  Our  face  fhall  no  more  be  pale  or  fad  ;  our 
.groans  and  fighs  will  be  done  away,  and  GoA  Jhall 
<iv:ps  aivay  ail  tears  from  our  eyes.  No  more  parting 
of  friends,  nor  voice  of  lamentation  heard  in  our 
dwellings ;  no  more  breaches  nor  difproportion  in  our 
friendibip,  nor  any  trouble  accompanying  our  rela- 
tions :  no  more  caie  of  mailers  for  fervants,  or  pa- 
rents for  children,  or  raagiflrates  over  fubjecfts,  or 
fniniiiers  over  people.  O  what  room  can  there  be  for 
eny  evil,  where  the  whole  is  perfectly  filled  with 
God!  Then /}:uU  the  ranfomed  of  the  Lord  returr.  and 
come  to  Sion  fwith  fongs,  and  everlafi'tng  joy  upon  ihiir 
heads.  They  fhall  ohla'm  joy  and gladnejs,  and  Jorrow 
end  fighing  Jhall  flee  ai:ay^  Ifaiah  xxxv.  lO.  Hold 
out  then  a  little  longer,  O  my  foul ;  bear  with  the  in- 
firmities of  thine  earthly  tabernacle  ;  endure  tlint  fhaie 
of  furrows,  that  the  love  of  thy  Father  (hall  iiripofe  ; 
i"ubmit  to  Ills  indignation  alfo,  becaufe  thou  hall  fin- 
ned 


The  Saints  Everlafiing  Reji.      69 

wed  agalnft  him  ;  It  will  be  thus  but  a  h'ttle  white  ; 
the  found  of  thy  Redeemer's  feet  iseven  at  the  door  ; 
and  thine  own  deHverance  nearer  than  many  others. 
And  thou  who  haft  often  cried  in  tht  language  of  the 
divine  poet, 

Sorro  w  ivat  all  my  foul;  I  fcarce  believed. 
Till  grief  did  tell  me  roundly,  that  I  lived  ; 

(halt  then  feel,  that  God  and  joy  is  all  thy  foul  ;  the 
fruition  of  whom,  with  thy  freedom  from  all  thefe 
forrows,  will  more  fweetly  and  more  feelingly  make 
thee  know  and  to  his  eternal  praife  acknowledge, 
tliat  thou  liveft.  And  thus  we  Ihall  rcii  fiom  all  af- 
fliction 3. 

The  laft  bleffed  attribute  of  this  reft  is,  tfiat  It  Is 
an  etern'l  re/l.  This  is  the  crown  of  our  crown; 
without  which  all  were  comparatively  nothing.  The 
very  thought  of  leaving  it  would  embitter  all  ^our 
joys;  and  the  more,  becaufe  of  the  fingular  excellen- 
cies we  muft  forlake.  It  would  be  a  hell  in  heaven 
to  think  of  once  lofing  heaven  :  as  it  would  be  a  kind 
of  heaven  to  the  damned,  had  they  but  hopes  of  once 
efcaping. 

It  makes  our  prefent  life  of  little  value  ''were  It 
not  for  the  reference  it  hath  to  eternity!  to  think  that 
we  muft  (hortiy  lay  it  down.  How  can  we  take  de- 
light in  any  thing,  when  we  remember  how  fhort  that 
delight  will  be  ?  But,  O  bleffed  eternity  !  where 
our  lives  are  perplexed  with  no  fuch  thoughts,  nor 
our  joys  interrupted  with  any  fisch  fears  ?  O  what  do 
I  fay  when  I  talk  of  eternity  ?  Can  my  Ihallow 
thoughts  conceive  it  ?  To  be  eternally  blelled,  and  fo 
bleffed  !  Surely  this,  if  any  thing,  is  the  refcmblance 
of  God;  eternity  is  a  piece  of  inhnitenefs.  ''I'hen,  0 
deaihy  ivhere  is  thyjling?  0 grave ^  tvhere  is  thy  viclory? 

Days, 


o      The  Samts  Everlajlivg  Rejl, 


Days,  and  nl;rhts,  and  years,  time  and  end,  and  deatii, 
arc  words  which  there  have  no  fignification  ;  nor  arc 
iif<'d,  except  peihajis  to  extt)l  eternity  ;  as  the  mention 
oF  hell,  to  extol  heaven  :  all  the  years  of  our  Lord, 
and  the  years  of  our  life,  are  fwallowed  up  and  lolt 
in  this  eternity. 

While  we  were  fervants,  we  held  by  leafe  ;  and  that 
but  for  the  term  of  tranfitory  life  :  But  the  fon  dbtdifh 
in  thf  houfr for  evtr.  Our  earthly  paradife  in  Eden  had 
s  way  out,  hut  none,  that  ever  we  could  find,  iti 
p.7?in  :  but  this  eternal  paradife  hath  a  way  in  (a 
r^ilky  way  to  us,  but  a  bloody  way  to  Chrill)  but  no 
way  out' again  :  For  thry  ihit  ivouUl  pifs  from  hence  to 
you  (faith  jlliabmjcnnn'jt:  a  (Irangc  plirafe!  would 
nny  pafs  from  fuch  a  place,  if  they  mi^ht  ?  Could 
they  enduie  to  be  abfcnt  from  God  ajjain  one  hour? 
No  ;  but  upon  fiippofal  they  would,  ytt  they  could* 
not.  O  then,  my  foul,  let  go  thy  dreams  of  prcfent 
pleafures  :  and  loofe  tliy  hold  of  earth  and  flefh.  Fear 
not  to  enter  that  eftate,  where  thou  (halt  ever  aftir 
ccr.fe  thy  fears.  Sit  down,  and  fadly  once  a  day  be- 
think thyfclf  of  this  eternity  :  among  all  the  arith- 
nr.ctical  r umbers,  ft.udy  the  value  of  this  infinite  cy- 
pher, which  though  it  fland  for  nothing  in  the  vul- 
gar account,  doth  yet  contain  all  our  millions,  as 
much  Icfs  than  a  fimple  unit :  lay  by  the  perplexed  and 
contradicting  chronological  tables,  and  fix  thine  eye 
on  this  eternity  ;  and  the  lines  which  remote  thou 
couldft  not  follow,  thou  (halt  fee  altogether  here  con- 
centred. Study  Icfs  thefe  tedious  volumes  of  hillory, 
vhich  contain  but  ihe  filent  narration  of  dreams,  and 
arc  but  the  pifturts  of  the  adtions  of  (liadows :  and 
inllead  of  all,  Ihidy  frequently,  Ihuly  throughly,  this 
one  word  [^eternity,']  and  when  thou  hall  throughly 
learned  that  one  W(Md,  thou  wilt  never  look  on  books 
again.  What!  live  and  ncvti  die!  Rejoice,  and  ever 
icjoicc  !   O,  what  fvvcet  words  are  thtl'e  !    "i'his  word 

\everlaj}ing'\ 


,     TJjc  Saints  Everlajliiig  Rejl,     yt 

[e'oerlp.fng'\  contains  the  accompliilicd  peifedlon  of 
our  glory.  O  that  the  wicked  linner  would  but 
foundly  Ihidy  this  word  '.  everlajTing ;]  methinks  it 
fliould  ftarlle  him  out  of  his  dct-p  flecp  !  O  that  the 
gracious  foul  would  believingly  (hidy  this  word  \_ever' 
laflio  ;]  methinks  it  ftiould  revive  him  in  the  dcepell 
agony!  And  muil  I,  Lotd,  thus  hve  for  ever? 
1  hen  will  I  alfo  love  for  ever.  Mufl  my  joys  be  Im- 
mortal ?  And  fhali  not  my  thanks  be  alfo  immortal  ? 
Surtly,  if  1  Ihall  never  lofe  my  glory,  I  will  never  al- 
fo ccafe  thy  ptalfLS.  If  thou  wilt  both  perftft  and 
perpetuate  me,  and  my  glory  ;  as  I  fhall  be  thine, 
and  not  mine  own,  fo  fhall  my  glory  be  thy  glory  ; 
and  as  they  did  take  their  fpring  from  thee,  fo  all 
fhall  devolve  to  thcc  again  ;  and  as  thy  glory  was 
tliine  uhimate  end  in  my  glory,  fo  {hall  it  alfo  be  mine 
end,  when  thou  haft  crowned  me  with  that  glory 
which  hath  no  end.  And  to  Theey  0  king  eternal,  im' 
mortal,  invifihle,  the  only  'wife  God^Jhall  be  the  honour^ 
■  and glotyy  for  ever  ana  ever.     Amen. 

CHAP.     VI. 

The  People  of  Gqd  defcribed, 

H.AVING  thus  performed  my  firft  tafl<  of  defcrib- 
ing  the  faints  rell  :  it  remains  that  now  '  pro- 
ceed to  the  fecond,  and  fbcw  you  what  thefe  people-of 
God  are,  and  why  fo  called;  for  whom  this  bleffed 
reil  rcmaineth. 

Regeneration  is  the  firft  and  great  qualification^of 
the  people  of  God.  To  be  the  people  of  God  with- 
out ve>;enerati(>n.  is  as  ''mpoCible  as  to  b'.  the  childicn 
of  men  without  generation  j  fteing  we  are  boni  G«rd's 

enemies, 


72      The  Saints  Everlajling  RcJ}, 

enemies,  we   muft    be  -new-born  his  fons,  or  elfe  re- 
main his  enemies  (till. 

Chr'tjl  hath  fpokeu  it  with  his  mouth,  That  except 
a  man  be  born  agar;:,  be  car.not  enter  into  the  kingdom  of 
God.  The  greateft  reformation  of  hfe,  without  this 
new  h'fe  wrought  in  tlie  foul,  may  procure  our  further 
tlelufion,  but  never  our  falvation. 

But  by  what  a6ls  doth  this  new  life  difcover  Itfelf  ? 

The  firft  work  T  call  convi^lion,  which  comprehends 
the  knowledge  of  vhat  the  fcripture  fpeaks  againftiin 
and  fmners;  and  that  this  fciipture  which  fpeaks  fo, 
is  the  word  of  God  himfelf  It  comprehends  alfo, 
fome  knowledge  of  ourfelves.  and  our  own  guilt,  and 
an  acknowledgment  of  the  verity  of  thofe  confequen- 
■ces,  which,  from  the  ptad\ice  of  fin  in  us,  and  threats 
^n  fcripture,  conclude  us  miferable. 

2.  As  there  mud  be  convidlon,  fo  alfo  fenfibility. 
"God  works  on  the  heart,  as  well  as  the  htad  ;  b<ith 
•were  corrupted  and  out  of  order.  The  principle  of 
^lewlife  doth  quicken  both.  All  true  fpiritual  know- 
ledge doth  pafs  into  the  affc6lions.  Tb.e  great  things  of 
fm,  of  grace,  and  Cluifl,  and  eternity,  which  are  of 
weight,  one  would  think  to  move  a  rock  ;  yet  iliake 
not  the  heart  of  the  carnal  profefior,  nor  pierce  his 
foul  to  the  quick  :  though  he  fhould  be  a  conftant 
preacher  of  them  to  others,  yet  they  little  affccl  him- 
felf: when  he  is  prefTmg  them  upon  the  liearis  of 
others,  you  would  little  think  how  infcnfible  is  his 
own  foul  :  his  invention  procureth  him  zealous  and 
moving  exprefTions,  but  they  cannot  procure  him  an- 
swerable affeftions. 

The  things  that  the  foul  is  thus  convinced  and  fen- 
iible  of,  are  cfpegi^Hy  ihcle  i 

I.  The 


I 


I 


7hs  Sdlnts  Euerlallin^  RciL      73 

1.  The  evil  of  fiii.  The  finner  is  mad.Mo  know 
and  feel,  that  the  fin,  wliich  was  his  delig;hr,  is  a 
more  loathfome  thing  than  toads  or  ferpcuts,  and  u 
greatci  evil  tlian  plague  or  fan:»ine,  or  any  other  cnh- 
miticb  :  it  btir.g  a  breacti  of  the  righttoas  law  of  ihe 
moll  high  G<jd,  dilhonourable  to  him,  and  dcitruc- 
tivvi  to  the  iinner» 

Now  the  finn^^r  reads  and  hears  the  reproofs  of  fin, 
as  words  of  courfe  ;  but  when  you  nnention  his  fin,  he 
fechyou  fpeak  at  his  very  heart,  and  yet  is  contented 
you  fhould  Hiew  hi:n  theworil:  he  was  wont  to  mar- 
vel, what  made  men  keep  fuch  a  ftir  agaiiift  fm,  what 
harm  it  was  for  a  man  to  take  a  little  pleafure  ;  he 
faw  no  fuch  heinoufnefs  in  it.  But  now  the  cafe  is  al- 
tered ;  God  halh  opened  his  eyes  to  fee  its  inexprirfa- 
ble  vilenefs. 

2.  The  foul  In  this  great  work  is  convinced  and 
feniible,  as  of  the  evil  of  lin,  fo  of  its  own  mifery  by 
reafon  of  fin.  They  who  before  read  tlie  threats  of 
God's  law,  as  men  do  the  {lories  of  foieign  wars; 
now  find  it  is  thtir  own  ilory,  and  perceive  tiiey  read 
their  own  doom,  as  if  they  found  their  names  vvrltteu 
in  the  curfe,  or  heard  the  law  fay,  as  Ncith-my  that 
art  the  man*  The  vvratii  of  God  fecmed  to  him  but 
as  a  iloim  to  a  man  in  a  dry  houfe  :  but  now  he  unci 
the  difeafe  Is  his  own,  and  feels  the  pains  in  hisovvu 
bowels.  In  a  word,  he  finds  himfelf  a  condemned 
man,  dead  and  damned  in  point  of  law,  and  thit  no- 
tliing  Is  wanting  but  mere  execution  to  make  him  ab- 
folutely  and  irrecoverably  miferable. 

Whether  you  will  call  this  a  work  of  the  law  or 
gofpcl,  It  Is  a  work  of  the  Spirit  wroagh.t  in  fome  mea  • 
fure  in  all  the  regenerate  :  And  though  fome  judge  it 
iinnecefl'ary  bondage,  yet  it  is  beyond  my  conceiving, 
how  he  fiiould  come  to  Chi  ill  for  pardon,  that  firih 
G  found 


74       The  Saints  Evcrlafiirig  ReJ. 

found  not  hlmfelf  guilty  and  con-demned  :  The  nvhott 
need  not  the  phyftctariy  hut  they  that  .ire  Jick.  Yet  I  de- 
ny not,  but  the  difcovery  of  the  remc^dy  as  foon  as  the 
mifcTy,  may  prevent  a  great  part  of  the  trouble,  and 
the  diftiiidLt  efteft  on  the  foul,  to  be  with  much  more 
difficulty  difcerned  :  nay,  the  adlingsof  the  foul  are 
fo  quick,  and  eft  lo  confuftd,  that  the  diftinft  order 
of  thefe  workings  may  not  he  apprehended  or  remem- 
bered at  all :  and  perhaps  the  joyful  apprehenfions  of 
mercy  may  make  the  fenfe  of  mifery  the  fooner  for- 
gotten. 

3.  So  doth  the  fpirit  alfo  convince  the  foul,  of  the 
creatuie's  vanity  ar.d  inlufficiency,  Evtry  man  natu- 
rally is  a  flat  idolater,  our  hearts  were  turned  from 
God  in  our  firll  fall  :  and  ever  lince  the  creature  hath 
been  our  God  :  this  is  the  grand  fin  of  nature  :  when 
we  fct  up  to  ourfelves  a  wrong  end,  we  mud  needs 
err  in  all  the  means.  The  creature  is  to  every  unre- 
generate  man  his  God  :  he  afcn'beth  to  it  the  divine 
prerogatives,  and  alloweth  it  the  higheft  room  in  his 
foul,  or  if  ever  he  come  to  be  convinced  of  mifery, 
he  fleeth  to  it  as  his  Saviour.  Indeed  God  and  his 
Chriil  have  ufually  the  name  ;  but  the  real  expefta- 
tion  is  from  the  creature,  and  the  work  of  God  is 
laid  upon  it.  His  pleafure,  his  profit,  and  his  honour, 
is  the  natural  man's  trinity  ;  and  his  felf,  that  is  thefe 
in  unity  :  indeed,  it  is  that  flefli  that  is  the  principal 
idol;  the  other  thice  are  deifitd  in  their  relation  to 
ourfelves.  It  was  our  firlt  fin,  to  afpire  to  be  as 
gods  ;  and  it  is  the  greatett  fin  that  runs  in  our  blood, 
and  is  propagated  in  our  nature  from  generation  to 
generation. 

When  God  fhould  guide  us,  we  guide  ourfelves  ; 
when  he  fiiould  be  our  fovereign,  we  rule  ourfelves. 
1  he  laws  which  he  gives  us,  w^e  find  fault  with  ;  and 
ii  vve  had  had  the  making  of  then);  we  would  have 

made 


The  Saints  Evcrlajling  Reft.       75 

made  them  othervvlfc  :  when  he  fiiould  take  care  of 
us  (and  mull,  or  we  peridi)  we  will  care  for  our- 
felvcs  ;  when  we  fhould  depend  on  him  daily,  we  had 
rather  keep  our  (luck  ouifelves,  and  have  our  povtion 
in  our  own  hands  ;  when  we  fliould  (land  at  his  dilpo- 
fal,  we  would  be  at  our  own  ;  and  when  we  fhould 
fuhmtt  to  his  Providence,  we  ufually  quarrel  at  it  ; 
as  if  we  knew  better  what  is  good  for  us  t'oan  he,  or 
how  to  diff)'ore  all  things  more  wifely.  This  is  tlie 
lanrwage  of  a  carnal  heart,  though  it  dotli  not  always 
fpeak  out.  When  we  fliould  fludy  God,  we  ftudy 
ourfclves  ;  when  we  rtiould  mind  God,  we  mind  our- 
fclves  ;  wh.-n  we  (hould  love  God,  we  love  outfelves  ; 
when  wf  fiiould  truft  God,  we  truft  ourfelves ;  when 
we  fliould  honour  God,  we  honour  ourfelves  j  when 
we  fliould-afrribe  to  God,  and  admire  liim,  we  afcribe 
to.  and  admire  ourfelves  :  and  inilesd  of  God,  we 
winild  have  all  men's  eyes  and  dependence  on  us,  and 
all  men's  thanks  returned  to  us,  and  would  gladly  be 
the  only  men  on  earth  admired  and  extolled  by  all. 

And  thus  we  are  naturally  our  own  Idols  :  but  down 
falls  this  Dagon^  when  God  does,  once  renew  the  foul  : 
it  is  the  great  bufmefsof  that  great  work  to  bring  the 
heart  back  to  God.  He  convinceth  the  finner,  i. 
That  the  creature  can  neither  be  his  God,  to  make 
him  ;  2.  Nor  yet  his  Chrift,  to  recover  him  from  his 
niifery,  to  reltore  him  to  God,  who  is  his  happinefs. 
This  God  doth  not  only  by  preaching,  but  by  Pio- 
vidence  alfo  ;  becaufe  words  will  hardly  take  off  the 
raging  fenfes,  therefore  doth  God  make  his  rod  to 
fpeak,  and  continue  fpeaking,  till  the  finner  hear,  and 
hath  learned  this  great  leflbn. 

This  is  the  great  reafon  why  afflidi6n  doth  fo  or- 
dinarily concur  in  the  work  of  converfion  ;  thefe  real 
arguments  which  fpeak  to  the  quick,  will  force  a 
,h<jaring;  v/hen  the  molt   powerful  words  are  flighted. 

When 


76      The  Saints  Everlrjling  Rejl, 

"Wlien  a  finner  made  Lis  credit  his  God,  and  God 
fliall  cad  him  into  the  !u\veft  difgrace  ;  or  bring  liim 
that  idolized  his  riches,  into  a  condition  wherein  they 
cannot  help  him,  or  caufe  them  to  take  wings  and  fly 
away  ;  what  a  help  is  here  to  this  work  of  conviv^ion  ? 
"V^^hen  a  man  that  made  his  pleafure  liis  God,  whe- 
tlier  eafe,  or  fports,  or  mirth,  or  company,  or  ghit- 
tony,  or  drur.kenncfs,  or  clothing,  or  buildings  ; 
or  vvhatfoever  a  ranging  eye,  a  curious  ear,  a  raging 
appetite,  or  a  luilful  heart  could  dcfire,  and  God 
fhall  take  thefe  from  him,  or  give  him  their  Ring  and 
curfe  with  thnn,  and  turn  them  all  into  gall  and 
v.'ormwood,  what  a  help  is  here  to  convi6lion  ?  When 
God  (hall  caft  a  man  into  a  langnilhing  ficknefs,  and 
infli<il  wounds  and  anguifh  on  his  heart,  and  llir  up 
againfl  him  his  own  confcience,  and  then  as  it  were 
take  him  by  the  hand,  and  lead  him  to  credit,  ta 
riches,  to  pleafore,  to  company,  to  fports,  or  what- 
f«ever  was  dcarfil  to  him,  and  fay,  now  try  if  thefe 
can  help  you  ;  can  thefe  heal  thy  wounded  confcience.? 
Can  they  now  fupport  thy  tottering  cottage  ?  Can 
they  keep  thy  departing  foul  in  thy  body  ?  Or  fave 
thee  from  mine  everlafting  wrath  ?  IVill  they  prove 
to  thee  eternal  pleafure  ?  Or  redeem  thy  foul  from 
nhe  eternal  flames  ?  Cry  aloud  to  them,  and  fee  now 
wiiether  thefe  will  be  inftead  of  God  and  his  Chrift 
unto  thee.  O  how  this  works  withthe  finner!  when 
fenfe  itfelf  acknowledgeth  the  truth,  and  even  the  flcfh 
is  convinced  of  the  creature's  vanity. 

4.  The  fo\irth  thing  that  the  foul  is  convinced  and 
fcnilble  of,  i>  the  abfolute  necelTity,  the  full  fufficien- 
ty,  and  perfect  excellency  of  Jcfus  Chrift. 

This  convi6\ion  is  not  by  mere  argumentation,  as 
«  m.an  is  convinced  offome  unconcerning  confequence 
by  difputc  :  hut  alfo  by  the  fenfe  of  our  dcfperate 
inifery,  as  a  man  in  a  famine  of  the  necefTiLy  of  food  ; 

ar 


The  Saints  Everlajling  Reft.     77 

tjr  a  man  that  had  read,  or  heard  his  condemnation, 
is  convinced  of  the  abfohite  necefiity  of  a  pardon. 
Now  the  finner  finds  himftlf  in  another  cafe  than  ever 
he  was  aware  of:  he  feels  an  infupportable  burden 
upon  him,  and  fees  there  is  none  but  Chnll  can  take 
It  off:  he  perceives  that  he  is  under  the  wrath  of 
God,  and  that  the  law  proclaims  him  a  rebel  and 
out-law,  and  none  but  Chrill  can  make  his  peace  :  he 
is  as  a  man  purfued  by  a  lion,  that  mufl  perifh  if  he 
find  not  prefent  fanftuary  :  he  feels  the  curfe  doth  lie 
upon  him,  and  upon  all  he  hath,  for  his  fake,  and 
Chrid  alone  can  make  him  blefled  :  he  is  now  brought 
to  this  dilemma,  either  he  muft  have  Chrid  to  jullify 
him,  or  be  eternally  condemned  ;  he  mud  have  Chrill 
to  fave  him,  or  burn  in  hell  for  ever  :  he  muft  have 
Chrid  to  bring  him  again  to  God,  or  be  fluit  out  of 
his  prcfence  cvcrlaftiugly.-  And  no  wonder,  if  he  cry, 
as  the  martyr  Lamhert^  none  hut  Chi  id  :  none  hut  Chrill, 
It  is  not  gold,  but  bread,  that  will  falisfy  the  hungry  : 
r.or  any  thing  but  pardon,  that  will  comfort  the  con- 
demned. All  things  are  now  hut  drofs  and  dung  ;  and 
rvhat  he  counted  gain,  is  now,  hut  lofs  in  compar'ifon  of 
Chrid  :  for  as  the  finner  feeth  his  utter  mifery,  and 
the  difability  of  blmfelf,  and  all  things  to  relieve  him  ; 
fo  he  doth  perceive,  that  there  is  no  faving  mercy  ouL 
of  Chrid. ;  There  is  none  found  in  heaven  or  on  earlk 
that  can  open  the  ftaled  book  fave  the  Lamb  ;  with- 
out his  blood  there  is  no  remillion,  and  without  rernil'* 
fion  there  is  no  falvation.  Could  the  finner  now  make 
any  fnift  without  Chr:d>  or  could  any  thir.g  elfe  iupply 
his  wants,  and  fave  his  foul,  then  might  Chrid  be  dif- 
regarded :  but  now  lie  is  convinced,  that  there  is  no 
other  nam.e,  and  the  necefuty  is  abfohite. 

2.   And  as  the  foul  is  thus  convinced  of  the  neCvfli- 

ty  of  Chrid,  fo  alfo    of  his   full  fufficiency  :  he  fees, 

though  the  creature  cannot,  and  himfelf  cannot,  yet 

Chrid  can.     Though  the  fig  leaves  ^S.  our  own  un- 

G  2,  right^cus 


78      The  S.ihtts  Evcrlijliug  Titjl. 

1  iglitcous  nghleoufner"-  are  tooilioit  to  cover  our  nal*-. 
cdiicfj,  yet  the  rl^htcoufncfs  orClirift  Is  large  enough  ; 
ours  Isdifpropoitionahle  lo  the  jufticc  of  the  law.  biit 
Chrlil's  doth  extend  to  every  tittle  :  his  fuiTcrings  be- 
ing a  peiftd  faiisfa^flion  to  the  law,  and  <?//  powgr  in 
heavrn  an  i  e.nth  liin^  niv^'n  to  /:i:n,  he  is  now  r.Lle  to 
fupply  every  of  our  wants,  and  io  favc  to  the  uUcrmoJi 
all  i  'j.it  come  lo  him, 

5.  The  foul  is  alfo  here  convinced  iif  llic  pci  fcCl 
cxccllcjicy  of  Jcfiis  Chrift,  both  «s  he  is  conilder- 
cd  in  i.imrcir,  and  as  conndcrtd  in  rtlaiion  to  us; 
both  as  he  is  t!ie  only  wuy  to  the  Father,  and  as  he  is 
the  end,  bcin;»  one  with  the  Father.  Btfoie  lie  kncvr 
Clirill's  excellency,  as  a  blind  man  knovcs  the  light  of 
the  fun  ;  but  nuw  as  one  that  beholdcth  his  glory. 

And  thus  doth  the  fpirit  convince  the  foul. 

4.  After  this  fenfible  convidion,  the  will  difcover- 
fth  a!fo  its  change  ;  j.nd  that  in  legard  of  all  the 
fjrcmentioued  obiecls. 

1.  The  fm  which  the^undcrnanding  pronounceth 
e'.  11,  the  will  doth  turn  from  with  abhonency.  Not 
thrt  tiie  feiifiiive  appetite  is  changed,  or  any  way 
?iadc  to  abhor  its  object  ;  but  when  it  would  cany  us 
10  fin  af^aiull  God  j  this  difordcr  and  evil  the  will 
abliorreth. 

2.  The  mifery  alfo  which  lin  hath  procured,  as  he 
dirccrnclii,  fo  he  bewailcth.  It  is  impt  lhr»le  that  the 
foul  now  living,  Oiould  look  either  on  its  irefpafa 
againll  God,  or  its  own  felf  procured  c;ilamity,  with- 
out fome  comp'.Mn^tion.  He  that  tnily  diicerncth, 
that    he    hath    killed    Chrilt,  r.nd  killed  himftlf,   will 

.  JL'  eh'  in    fome  raa.fuie  be  piicktd  to  ihc  heart.     If 

4ic 


The  Snints  Everlafting  Reft,      jc) 

^"kz  cannot  weep,  he  can  heartily  groan  ;  and  his  heart 
feels  what  his  undtrilandiivg  fets. 

3.  The  creature  he  now    renounceth  as  vain,  and 

t'jrneth  it  ©ut  cf  his  heart  with  difdain.  Not  that  he 

undervauieth  it  or    difclaimeth    its   ufe  ;  but  its  idol- 
atrous abufe,  and  its  unjuft  ufurpation. 

There  is  a  two-fold  error  very  common  in  the  de- 
fcriptions  of  the  work  of  convcrfion.  The  one,  of 
thole  who  only  mention  the  iinner's  turning  from  fin 
ty?  God,  without  mentioning  the  receiving  Chriil-by 
faith.  The  other,  of  thofe  who  only  mention  a  fin- 
tier's  believing,  and  then  think  they  have  faid  all: 
nay,  they  blame  them  as  Legaliils,  who  make  any 
thin;7  but  the  bare  believing  of  the  love  of  God  in 
Chi  ill  to  us,  to  be  part  of  the  work  ;  and  would  per- 
f'.'.ade  poor  fouls  to  quellion  all  their  former  comforts, 
and  conclude  the  work  to  have  been  only  legal,  be- 
caufe  they  have  made  their  change  of  heart  and  turn- 
ing from  fin,  part  of  it ;  and  have  taken  up  part  of 
t-lieir  comfort  from  the  revievving  ol  thefe. 

Indeed,  fiiould  they  take  up  here  without  Chrifl, 
or  take  fuch  a  change  inlUad  of  Chvid,  in  whole  or 
in  part,  the  reprehenfion  were  juH:.  But  can  Chriil 
be  the  way,   where  the  creature  is  the  end  ;   is  he  not 

■  the  only  way  to  the  Father?  Can  we  feek  to  Clnifl 
.  to  reconcile  us  to  God,   while  in  our  hearts  we  prefer 

■  the  creature  before  him  ?   In    the  foul  of  every  tinre- 
gcnerate  mar.,  the  creature   is  both  God  and  ChriH. 

^  Can  Chrift  be  believed  in,  where  our  own  righteoui- 
.  nefs,  or  any  other  thing,  is  trufted  as  our  Saviour  ? 

The  truth  is  :   as  turning  from  the  creat'ire  to  God, 

■  and  not  by  Chrift,  is  no  true  turning  ;  fo  believing  in 
•  Chrilt,  while  the  creature  hath  our  hearts,  is  no  true 
Lbtheving.     And  therefore  in  the  worli  of  felF-exa- 


..jaiuaiio? 


^? 


So      The  Saints  Everlajling  Reft. 

mlnatlon,  whoever  would  find  In  himfelf  a  thorough 
(incere  work,  mull  find  an  entire  work  j  even  the  one 
of  thefc  as  well  as  the  other. 

In  the  review  of  which  entire  work,  there  13  no 
doubt  but  his  foul  may  take  comfort.  And  it  is  not 
to  be  made  fo  light  of,  as  moll  do,  that  fcripture  doth 
fo  ordinarily  put  repentance  before  faitli,  and  make- 
tliem  jointly  conditions  of  the  gofpcl :  which  repent* 
ance  contains  thofe  acls  of  the  will  before  expreffed. 

It  is  true,  If  we  take  faith  In  the  largcft  fcnfe,  then 
ii  contains  repentance  in  it  ;  but  if  we  take  it  Itridly, 
no  doubt  there  are  fome  afts  of  it  go  before  repent- 
ance, and  fome  follow  after. 

4.  And  as  the   will  Is  thus  averted  from  the  fore- 
inentioned  objefts  ;  fo  at  the  fame  time  doth  it  cleave 
to   God  the   Father,  and  to  Chriil.      Its  firft  adUng. 
confifts  efpecially  in    intending  and  defiring  God  for 
his  portion  and  chief  good  ;   having  before  been  con- 
vinced, that  nothing  clfe  can  be  his  happinefs,  he  now  - 
finds  It    in    God :    and    therefore    looks   towards   it. 
But  it  is  yet  rather  with  dcfire  than  hope.     For  alas, 
the  finncr  hath  already  found  himfelf  to  be  a  llranger 
and  an  enemy   to  God;  under  the   guilt  of  fin  and 
curfe  of  the  law,  and  knows  there   is   no   coming  to 
him    in   peace   till  his  cafe  be  altered  ;  and  therefore 
having  before   been    convinced  alfo,   that  only   Chriil 
is  able  and  willing  to  do  this,  and  having  heard  this 
mercy  in  the  gofptl  freely  offered  ;  his  next  aCt  is,  . 
to  accept  of  Chriil  as  his  Saviour  and  Lord. 

Therefore  both  millake  :  they  who  only  mention 
our  turning  to  Chriil,  and  they  who  only  mention  our 
turning  to  God,  in  this  work  of  converfion.  St. 
Patil\  preaching  was  repentance  towarils  God,  and 
fakh  toward  our  Lord  Jeius  Chriil.     And  life  ettmal 


! 


I 


The  Salnls  Everlajlhig  Rcji.      8i 

^corjijlsi  firjl  in  inow'ing  the  only  true  God,  and  tnen 
Jefiis  Child  whom  he  hath  fnt,  John  xvii.  3.  The 
former  ia  the  natural  part  of  the  covenant,  to  tjke  the 
Lord  only  for  our  God.  The  latter  Is  tfie  fuper- 
n.itural  part  to  take  ClnKl  only  for  our  Redeenu-r. 
The  former  is  firll  nectiTary,  and  implied  in  the  latter. 

Though  repentance  and  cjood  works  are  required 
to  our  full  juliification  at  judgment,  as  fubfervient  to, 
or  concurrent  with  faith;  yet  is  the  nature  of  this 
juRifylng  faith  itfelf  contained,  in  accepting  of  Cbrifl 
for  Saviour  and  Lord.  I  call  it  accepting,  it  being 
principally  an  a6l  of  the  will  ;  but  yet  alfo  of  the 
whole  foul.  Tin's  accepting  being  that  which  the 
gofpel  prefTcth  to,  and  calk-th  the  receiving  or  ac- 
cepting Chriil.  1  call  it  an  affectionate  acrfpting, 
though  love  feem  dillind  from  faith,  yet  I  take  it  a* 
elfcntial  to  that  faith  that  juflines.  To  accept  Chrift 
without  love,  is  not  ju{ilfying  faith.  Nor  doth  lo.ve 
fojlow  33  a  fruit,  but  immediately  concur  ;  as  eflential 
to  a  true  accepting. 

It  is  an  accepting  him  for  our  Saviour  and  Lord. 
For  in  both  relations  will  he  be  received,  or  not  at  all. 
It  is  not  only  to  acknowledge  his  fufTeringc,  and  ac- 
cept of  pardon  and  glory,  but  to  acknowledge  his  fo- 
vc;reignty,  and  fubmit  to  his  government  and  way  of 
faving. 

The  work  (which  Chrid  thus  accepted  of,  is  to  per- 
form} is,  to  bring  the  finners  to  God,  that  they  may 
be  happy  in  him  ;  and  this  both  really  by  his  Spirit, 
and  relatively  in  reconciling  them,  and  making  them 
fons  ;  and  to  pvefent  them  perfed  before  him  at  lad, 
and  to  poITefs  them  of  the  kingdom.  Thc^  obtaining 
cf  thtfeare  the  fmner's  lawful  ends  in  receiving  Chrid; 
and  to  thefc  ufes  doth  he  offer  hirafclf  to  us. 


/ 


82       The  Saints  E%>€rhjling  Reft. 

^.  To  ?>!•:,  rrd  dorh  the  TinDcr  now  ent^  t-.io  a  cor- 

*"'  '  Chria.      Bm  he  »M«  ncr<  r  ftr.JtIy, 

!"  '1  covrnaftt  with  Chrift  i  ..  oow.   He 

"  '  confer!,  and  now  doth  he  cordullj 

^'  "^  ^^  »hc  agi cement  u  fully  made. 

6.    \\.IJi  I.  .    ,.      (  ;,anr  C(<rciirr^   ;.  *    *  "        y. 

Chrift  drli%cteth   h:mfe!f  in  aU  coi:  .u* 

to  the  r.nncr,   and- the  fmner  dthrcni!.  i.p  himul*  t6 


be  fftved  and  r;.hd  by  Chrift.     Ko^.  d  -v,  ihc  foul  re. 
f  V  •:!.:;  .!r.  I  have  been  !  hv  the  flofb, 

\''"  '\       '   •     '■  ''C  dcTi'l,  too  I  (i  to  my  de- 

i  I.  :r  n  ;  1  u,)l  n.»w  be  wliolly  at  the  difpofal  of  my 
1-  •<!,  who  haih  bought  ir.t  uith  hit  bIoi«d,  and  will 
br.n^r  me  to  hli  glory  Ami  ihui  the  complete  wr»ik. 
cf  lavii.n  fa,ih  confiftcTh  in  this  covenanting,  ormyf- 
tical  marriage  of  chc  finner  to  Chrift, 

^  Thus  you  have  a  naked  enumeration  of  the  rflen. 
tials  of  this  people  of  God  ;    not   a  full  y  of 

ihcm  in  all  their  exccllcncits,  norall  the  r 


\*i!l  not  be  uiifcafnnallc,  to  take  an  accoLnt  of  vour 
own  eftates.  and  to  view  yonrfclves  cxadtly  in  this 
j;lar»,  before  you  pafs.  And  1  btfccch  thee,  reader, 
••  thou  haft  the  hope  of  a  chriftian,  yea,  or  the  npfon 
of  a  man,  to  deal  throu^hlv,  and  fcaich  canlullv, 
and  judge  ti.yfelf  11  one  th^t  muft  ft.oiily  be  judged 
by  the  ii]^liicou«  God  ;  a;»d  faithfully  anfwcr  lo  ihcfc 
few  queftions. 

And  firft.  haft  thou  bee:  ccd  of 

a«   univcrfil   deprivation,    \  foul? 

Aiid   an    univcrfal    wickcdncU    ihrou^h   thy    whole 

j:rc : 


The  Saints  Everla/lmg  Rejl.      83 

Ufe  ?  and  how  vile  a  thin^tbis  fiti  is  ?  and  that  by  the 
tenor  of  that  covenant  which  thou  hall  tranfgrefiTed, 
the  Icaft  (in  defei  vcs  eternal  death  ?  Doil  thou  confent 
to  this  law,  that  it  is  true  and  righteous?  Haft  thou 
perceived  thyftlf  fentenced  to  this  death  by  it,  and 
been  convinced  of  thy  undone  condition  ?  Haft  thou 
further  ften  the  utter  infufficiency  of  every  creature, 
cither  to  be  itfelf  thy  happinefs.  or  the  means  of  cur- 
ing this  thy  mifcry,  and  making  thee  happy  in 
God  ?  Haft  thou  been  convinced,  that  thy  happinefs 
is  only  in  God  as  the  end  ?  and  only  in  Chrill  as  the 
way  to  him  ?  and  that  thou  muft  be  brought  to  God 
by  Chrift,  or  perifti  eternally  I  Haft  thou  feen  hereup- 
on an  abfolute  neceflity  of  enjoying  Chrift  ?  and  the 
full  fiifficiency  that  is  in  him,  to  do  for  tiiee  whatfo- 
ever  thy  cafe  requireth,  by  reafon  of  the  fulnefs  of  his 
fatlsfatflion,  the  greatncfs  of  his  power,  the  dignity  of 
his  perfon,  and  the  freenefs  of  his  promifes  ?  Haft: 
thou  difcovered  the  excellency  of  this  pearl,  to  be 
worth  thy  felling  all  to  buy  it  ?  Hath  all  this  been 
joined  with  forne  fenfibility  ?  As  the  convictions  of  a 
man  that  thirfteth,  of  the  worth  of  drink  ?  and  not 
been  only  a  change  of  opinion  produced  by  reading 
and  education,  as  a  bare  notion  in  the  underftanding  ? 
Ha'h  it  proceeded  to  an  abhorring  fin  ?  Have  both 
thy  fin  and  mifeiy  been  a  burden  to  thy  foul?  and  if 
thou  couldft  not  weep,  yet  couldft  thou  groan  under 
the  infupportable  weight  of  both  r  Haft  thou  renoun- 
ced all  tliine  own  righteoufnefs  ?  Haft  thou  turned 
thy  idols  out  of  thy  heart  ;  {o  that  the  creature  hath 
no  more  the  fovereignty  ;  but  God  and  Chrift  ?  Dofl: 
thou  accept  of  Chrift  as  thy  only  Saviour,  and  expedl 
thy  juftiiication,  recovery  and  glory  from  him  alone  ? 
Doft  thou  take  him  alfo  for  Lord  and  King  ?  And  are 
his  laws  the  moft  powerful  commanders  of  thy  foul  ? 
Do  they  ordinarily  prevail  againft  the  commands  of 
the  flefti,  of  Satan,  of  thr  greateft  on  earth  that  ftiall 
countermand  ?  and  againft  the  intereft  of  thy  credit, 

profit. 


84      "if-^^  Saints  Everla/ling  Reji. 

profit,  pleafiire,  or  life  }  So  that  thy  confcicnce  Is  di- 
reftly  fubjeft  to  Chrill  alone  ?  Hath  he  the  higheft. 
room  in  thy  afFe<ftions  ?  So  that  though  thou  canlt  not 
Jovt  him  as  thou  wouldft,  yet  nothing  clfe  is  loved  fo 
mucli  ?  Haft  thou  made  a  hearty  covenant  to  this  end  ? 
and  delivered  up  thylclf  to  him  ?  and  takclt  thyfelf  for 
his,  and  not  thine  own  ?  Is  it  thy  utmoft  care  and 
watchful  endeavour,  that  thou  mayft  be  found  faith- 
ful in  this  covenant  ?  If  this  be  truly  thy  cafe,  thou 
art  one  of  th^  people  of  God  :  and  as  fure  as  the  pro- 
mife  of  God  is  true,  tliis  blefled  reft  remains  fo:  thee. 
Only  fee  thou  abide  in  Chrift,  and  cor.tinue  to  the 
end  ;  For  if  any  draw  backy  his  foul  iv'ill  have  no  pka^^ 
Jure  in  them. 

The   conclusion. 

And  thus  I  have  explained  to  you  the  fubjed:  of  my 
text;  and  (hewed  you  darkly,  what  this  itft  is,  and 
briefly  who  are  this  people  of  God.  O  that  the  Lord 
would  now  open  your  eyes,  to  difcern,  and  be  affe<2:- 
ed  with  the  glory  revealed  !  That  he  would  take  off 
your  hearts  from  thofe  dung-hill  delights,  and  ravifh 
them  with  the  views  of  thefe  everlafting  pleafures  ! 
That  he  would  bring  you  into  the  ftate  of  his  holy 
and  heavenly  people,  for  whom  alone  this  reft  re* 
rraineth  !  That  you  would  exadtly  try  yourfelves  by 
the  foregoing  delcripticn  !  That  no  foul  of  you  might 
be  fo  damnably  deluded,  as  to  take  your  natural  or 
acquired  parts,  for  the  chara61:ers  of  a  faint  !  O  hap- 
py, and  thrice  happy  you,  if  thcfe  fermons  might  have 
I'uch  fuccefs  with  your  foul*,  that  fo  you  might  die  tht 
death  of  (he  rj^hleous,  and  your  Infi  end  be  like  his  ! 

End  of  the  Flrjl  Part. 

T]pE 


[     85     ] 


.•<■<  .<■•<•.<■•<■«•■<■•<•<••<■•<•••<••■<••<>■>•■>■•>•■>■•>■>■  »■••>  >■>■■>■  *>■>■■>■■>■■>■> -zyi 


T    tl    E 

Saints  Everlaftino:  Reft, 


PART     ir. 


Hebrews  iv.   9. 


77jere  remaljelh   tlerefjre  a  ReJ}  to  the  Peot-le  of 
God. 


CHAP.     I. 

In  AVE  been  hitherto  prefe  ning  to  your  undei- 
llandings,  the  excellency  of  tie  Relt  of  the  8aliitti. 
Let  your  hearts  now  cheerfully  embrace  it,  and  im- 
prove it,  and  I  fhall  prerent  it  to  you,  in  its  ?;cijt?_- 
tive  ufes. 

1  will  hy  together  all  thofe  ufes  that  mod  concern 
the  ungodly,  and  then  thofe  that  are  proper  to  the 
godly  thent^felves. 

The  inancei'vahle  m'lfery  of  the  ungodly  in  their  lofs  of 
this  Refl. 

And  firft-,  if  this  reft  be  for  none  but  the  people  of 

God,  what   tidings  is    this   to  the   ungodly    world? 

That  there  is  fo  much  glory,  but  none  for  them  :  fc> 

great  joys  for  the  faints  of  God,  while  they  muft 

H  confume 


A 


"56      The  Saints  Everlajling  Reft, 

confume  in  perpetual  forrows  !  If  thou  who  readefl 
thefe  words,  art  a  ftrangcr  to  Chrift,  and  to  the  haly 
Jiature  and  life  of  his  people,  and  fhalt  live  and  die  in 
the  condition  thou  art  now  in  ;  I  am  a  meflenger  of 
the  faddeft  tidings  to  thee,  that  ever  yet  thy  ears  did 
hear  :  that  thou  (halt  never  partake  of  the  joys  of  hea- 
ven, nor  have  the  leall  tafte  of  the  faints  eternal  reft. 
I  may  fay  to  thee,  as  EhudU)  Eglon  ;  1  have  a  meffage 
to  thee  from  God :  but  it  is  a  mortal  meffage,  that 
as  fure  as  the  word  of  God  is  true,  thou  (halt  never 
fee  the  face  of  God  with  comfort.  This  fentence  I 
am  commanded  to  pafs  upon  thee  !  Take  it  as  thou 
wilt,  and  efcape  it  if  thou  canft.  I  know,  if  thy 
heart  and  life  were  throughly  changed,  thy  rclatioa 
to  Chrift  and  eternity  would  be  changed  alfo  ;  he 
would  then  acknowledge  thee  for  one  of  his  people, 
and  give  thee  a  portion  in  the  inheiitance  of  his  cho- 
itw.  But  if  thou  end  thy  days  in  thy  prefent  condi- 
tion, as  fure  as  the  heavens  are  over  thy  hca|3,  and  the 
earth  under  thy  feet ;  as  fure  as  thou  liveft  and  breath- 
eft  in  this  air,  fo  fure  fhalt  thou  be  fhut  out  of  this  reft: 
of  the  faints,  and  receive  thy  portion  in  everlafting 
lire.  I  expeil  that  thou  fliouldft  in  the  pride  of  thy 
heart,  turn  upon  me,  and  fay,  and  wlien  did  God 
fliew  you  the  book  of  life,  or  tell  you  who  they  are 
that  ftiall  be  faved,  and  who  fliut  out  ? 

I  will  not  anfwer  thee  according  to  thy  folly :  bat 
plainly  difcover  this  thy  folly  to  thyfelf,  that  if  there 
be  yet  any  hope,  thou  mayell  recover  thy  anderftand- 
ing,  and  return  to  God  and  live  :  Firft,  I  do  not 
rame  thee,  nor  any  other ;  I  only  conclude  of  the 
unregenerate  in  general,  and  of  thee  conditionally,  if 
thou  be  fuch  an  one.  Secondly,  I  do  not  go  about  to 
determine  who  fhall  repent,  and  who  fliall-not,  much 
lefs,  that  thou  ftialt  never  repent,  and  come  to  Chrift. 
Thefe  things  are  unknown  to  me  ;  I  had  far  rather 
•{hew  thee  what  hopes  thou  haft  before  thee,  if  thou 

wilt 


The  Saints  Everlajling  Rejl\      ^j 

wilt  not  fit  ftlll  and  lofe  them :  and  I  would  far  rather 
perfiiade  thee  to  hearken  in  time,  before  the  dour 
is  fliut  againft  thee,  th?.t  fo  thy  foul  may  return  and 
live,  than  tell  thee  that  there  is  no  hepe  of  thy  re- 
penting and  returning.  But  if  the  foregoing  defcrip- 
tion  of  the  people  of  God  do  not  agree  with  tlie  (late 
of  thy  foul ;  it  is  then  a  hard  queflion,  whether  thou 
flialt  ever  be  favtd  ?  Even  as  hard  a  queftion,  as  whe- 
ther God  be  true  ?  Do  1  need  to  afcend  up  into  hea- 
ven, to  know,  That  nv'tthout  holim-fs  none  Jhall  /-<? 
God?  or,  That  only  the  pure  in  heart  (hall  fee  God  ? 
or,  That  except  a  man  be  born  again ^  he  cannot  enttr 
into  the  kingdom  of  God  ?  Cannot  thcfe  be  known 
without  fearching  into  God's  councils?  And  yet  dcjlt 
thou  aflc  me,  how  I  know  who  fliall  be  faved  ?  What: 
need  I  go  up  to  heaven  to  enquire  that  of  Child, 
which  he  came  down  to  earth  to  tell  us?  and  f<:P.t  his 
Spirit  in  his  prophets  and  apofties  to  tell  us  ?  and  n^th 
left  upon  record  to  all  the  world?  And  though  I  do 
not  know  the  fecrets  of  thy  heart,  and  therefoie  cannot 
tell  thee  by  name,  whether  it  be  thy  ftate,  or  no  ;  yet 
if  thou  art  but  willing  or  diligent,  thou  mayft:  know 
thyfclf,  whether  thou  art  an  l»eir  of  heaven,  or  not. 
And  that  is  the  main  thing  that  I  defire,  that  if  thou 
be  yet  miferable,  thou  mayft  difcern  it,  and  efcape  it. 
But  canft  thou  efcape,  if  thou  negled  Chrift  and  fal- 
vation  ?  If  thou  love  father^  mother^  ivife^  chiluren, 
houfes^  lands^  or  thine  own  life  bdier  than  Chifl ,  if. 
foy  thou  canfl  not  be  hif  difciple.  And  confequenlly  canifc 
never  be  faved  by  him.  Is  it  not  as  impoffible  forihee 
to  be  faved,  except  thou  be  born  ogain,  as  it  is  for  the 
devils  thcmfelves  to  be  faved  ?  Nay,  God  hath  more 
plainly  and  frequently  fpoken  it  in  the  fcripture,  that 
fuch  finners  as  thou  ilialt  never  be  faved,  than  he  hatli 
done,  thafthe  devils  (hall  never  be  faved.  And  do 
not  thefe  tidings  go  cold  to  thy  heart  ?  Methinks,  but 
lliat  there  is  yet  life  and  hope  before  thee,  and  thou 
hall   yet  time  and  means  to  have  thy  foul  recovered, 

tlie 


8S      The  Saints  E'verlajling  Jlejl. 

the  fight  of  thy  cafe  fhonld  even  ftrlke  thee  dead  with 
amazement.  But  becaufe  Iwould  fain  have  thee,  if 
it  be  pofTible,  to  \^J  it  to  heart,  I  will  here  flay  a  lit- 
tle longer  and  fhew  thee,  firft,  the  greatnefs  of  thy 
lofs  ;  fecondly,  the  aggravations  of  thy  unhappinefs 
in  this  lofs  ;  thirdly,  the  ywfjtive  mifcries  that  thou 
mufl  endure,  with  their  aggravations. 

F'njQj  The  ungodly  in  their  lofs  of  heaven,  lofc 
all  that  glorious  perfonal  perfc£lion,  which  the  peo- 
ple of  God  tlere  enjoy.  They  lofe  that  fliining 
)'iftre  of  the  body,  fnipniTnar  the  bjightnefs  of  the 
i\m.  'i'hough  even  the  boditR  of  the  wicked  will  be 
raifed  incorruptible,  yet  that  will  be  fo  far  from -be- 
ing jr-ippinefs  to  them  that  it  only  makes  them  capa- 
ble of  the  more  exqalGte  torments.  'I'hcy  would  be 
glad  th-erj,  if  every  member  were  a  dead  member,  that 
>t  might  not  feel  the  ptmifnment  infiidlcd  on  it  ;  and 
the  wiiOi€  IxKJy  were  a  rotten  carcafe,  or  might  again 
jie  down  in  duft  and  darkn^fs-  Much  more  do  they 
vant  that  moral  pcvfettion  which  the  blclTed  partake 
of;  thofe  holy  d'.fpofitions  ;  that  blcflcd  conformity 
to  the  holinefs  ot  God  ;  that  cheerful  rcadinefs  to  do 
Iiis  will  ;  that  perf*.  <fl  rectitude  of  all  their  actions  : 
inflead  of  thefe,  they  have  their  old  ulcerous  deform- 
ed fouls,  that  pei  vevfcnefs  of  will,  that  di-forder  io 
tiieir  faculties,  that  loathing  of  good,  that  love  to 
evi"..  that  violence  of  pafiion,  which  they  had  on  earth. 
It  is  true,  their  undcrllandings  will  be  much  cleared, 
both  by  theceafjiig  of  temptation  and  deluding  ob- 
ject., anJ  by  the  fad  experience  which  they  wiil  have 
h-)  It.  II,  of  the  falfehood  of  their  former  conceits  and 
dcli.iiuns.  But  the  evil  difpofition  is  never  the  more 
ci  anged  ;  thty  have  tlie  fame  difpofitions  ilill,  and 
fain  would  commit  the  fame  lins,  if  they  could  ;  they 
w.-jot  but  opportunity  :  certainly  they  (hall  have  none 
cFt(ie  cjlovious  perfc<fti()ns  of  the  f^^-ints,  either  ift 
jfoui  or  body.  There  will  be  a  greater  difference  be- 
tween 


The  Saints  Everlajlhig  Rejl.      89 

t\veen  thefc  wretches  and  the  glorified  chilftians,  than 
there  Is  betwixt  a  toad  and  the  fun  in  the  firraament. 

But  the  great  lofs  of  the  damned,  will  be  their  lofa 
of  God,  they  fliall  have  no  comfortable  relation  to 
him  :  nor  communion  with  him.  As  they  did  not  I'llic 
to  retain  God  in  their  knowledge  ;  but  bid  him,  depart 
from  uff  <ive  dejire  not  the  knowledge  of  thy  ivays  ;  U> 
God  will  abhor  to  retain  them  in  his  houfehold,  cr 
to  give  them  entertainment  in  his  fellowfhip  and  glo- 
r)'.  He  will  never  admit  them  to  the  inheritance  of 
his  faints,  nor  endure  them  to  Hand  amongil  them  irr 
his  prefence  :  but  bid  them,  depart  from  Me,  ye  <work- 
ers  of  iniquity y  I  know  ye  not.  Now  thefe  men  dare 
bely  the  Lord,  if  not  blafpheme,  in  calling  him  by 
the  title  of  their  Father  ;  how  boldly  and  confidently 
do  they  daily  approach  him  with  their  lips,  and  indeed 
reproach  l;im  in  their  formal  prayers,  wiih  that  appel- 
lation ?  As  if  God  would  father  the  devil's  children  ; 
or,  as  if  the  (lighters  of  Chrift,  the  friends  of  the  world, 
the  haters  of  godlinefs,  or  any  that  delight  in  iniquity, 
were  the  offspring  of  heaven  1  They  are  ready  now, 
to  lay  confident  claims  to  Chrift,  as  if  they  were  fin- 
cere  believers.  But  when  that  time  is  come,  and 
Chrift  will  feparate  his  followers  from  his  foes,  and 
his  faithful  friends  from  his  deceived  ftatttrers,  where 
then  will  be  their  prefumptnous  claim  ?  Then  they 
fhall  find  that  God  is  not  their  father,  but  their  foe, 
becaufe  they  would  not  be  his  people.  And  as  they 
would  not  confent  that  God  fhould  by  his  Spirit  dwell 
in  them.fo  ftiall  not  thefe  evil  doers  dwell  with  him  ; 
the  tabernacles  of  wickednefs  (hall  have  no  fello\v(hip 
with  him  ;  nor  the  wicked  inhabit  the  city  of  God  ; 
for  'w  thout  a>'e  dogs,  forcer  en  ^  ixharemo/igers,  murderers^ 
tdolatersy  and  njohatfoever  loveih  and  maheth  a  lie.  God 
is  firft  enjoyed  in  part  on  earth,  before  he  be  fully  en- 
joyed in  heaven.  It  is  only  they,  that  walked  with 
him  herC;  who  (lull  live  and  be  happy  with  him  there. 
H  2  Oh, 


90       Th:  Saints  EvcrlaJIhrg  ReJI\ 

Oh,  little  cloth  the  wot  Id  know  what  a  lofs  thnt  fo'.il 
hath,  who  lofeth  God  !  What  were  the  uorhi  but  a 
dungeon,  if  it  had  loll  the  fun  ?  What  were  the  body^ 
lv.it  a  loalhfom.  carrion,  if  it  had  led  the  foul  ?  Yet 
all  thcfc  are  nothing  to  the  lofs  of  God.  So  that  as 
the  enjoyment  of  God  is  the  heaven  of  the  faints;  fo- 
the  loft,  of  God  is  the  hell  of  the  un;j;odiy.  An-I  vs- 
the  enjoying  of  God  is^he  enjoying  of  all  ;  fo  the  lofs 
of  God  is  the  lofs  of  all. 

Thin^Iyy  As  I  hey  lofe  God,  fo  they  lofe  all  thofc 
delightful  aiTtdions  and  actions,  by  wiiich  the  bleffed 
feed  on  God;  that  trar.fpoiting-  knowltdge:  thofe- 
Tavifiiing  views  of  his  glorious  face:  the  inconceiva- 
ble plcafure  of  loving  God  :  the  apprchenfinns  of  his 
Jufinite  love  to  i:s  :  the  conf'ant  joys  which  his  fainta 
are  taken  up  with,  and  the  rivers  of  confolation 
where-AJth  he  doth  fatlsiy  tlicm  Is  It  nothing  to  lofe 
»il  this  ?  The  enr.ploynneiit  of  a  king  in  ruling  a  king- 
dom, dvilh  not  fo  f.ir  exceed  the  employment  of  the 
vklcll  fiave,  as  this  heavenly  employment  cxceedeth  his* 

Fou'ih>y,  They  flial!  he  dcpii.vcd  of  the  bKfTcd  fo- 
ciety  oi  angels  and  gl'Tilied  (aints.  Infltad  of  being; 
companions  of  t';ofe  fappy  fpirits,  and  numbered  with 
thoA- joyful  and  triumpiiinj^  kings,  they  mull  now  be 
n;cmbeis  of  the  coip(.Mation  of  hell,  where  they  (liall 
have  companions  of  a  far  diffeient  nature.  Wlille 
they  lived  on  earth,  they  loathed  the  faints,  they  im- 
prilowed,  baiiiflnd  thtm,  and  call  them  out  of  their 
focitties,  or  at  leaft  they  would  not  be  their  compa- 
nion.->  in  labour  and  in  fufferiugs  ;  and  therefore  they 
fhall  not  now  be  tlieir  companions  \\\  their  glory. 
Now  you  aie  (hut  out  of  that  company,  from  which 
yon  f<»(l  (hni  out  yourfrlves  ;  and  are  ftparated  fioni 
them  whom  you  would  not  be  joined  with.  You 
coniil  not  «'r!dui  .  i\>.y\x\  in  vomp  iijjufes,  nor  in  your 
town;  nor  fcarce  in  the  Jkingdom  \  you  took  them  na 

Ahab 


The  Saints  Everla;ih^  Reft,      91 

jihab  did  Eias^  for  the  troublers  of  the  'and  \  and  as 
the  apoilks  were  taken  for  m''n  thaf  turned  the  ivorhl 
upfule  do7vn  :  if  any  thini^  fell  out  anilis,  you  thought 
all  was  through  them.  When  thty  were  dead  or  ba- 
niuied,  you  were  glad  tliey  were  gone  ;  and  thougljt 
the  conuti'v  was  well  rid  of  them.  They  m;)]cilcd  you 
viih  their  faithful  leproving  your  fin  :  their  holy  con- 
verfation  troubled  you.  You  fcarce  ever  heard  them 
prayer  fing  praifcs  in  their  families,  but  it  was  a  vex- 
ation to  you;  and  you  envied  their  liberty  ofwovfhip- 
ping  God  And  is  it  then  any  wonder  if  you  be  fe- 
paiatetl  from  tlum  hereafter!  The  day  is  near  when 
they  will  trouble  you  no  more  ;  betwixt  them  and  you 
will  be  a  great  gulf  fet,  that  thofe  that  would  pafs 
from  thence  to  you  f  if  any  had  a  defire  to  cafe  you 
with  a  drop  of  water}  cannot,  neithei  can  they  pafs 
to  them,  who  would  go  from  you. 

C  H  A  P.     IL 

The  Aggravation  of  the  Lofs  of  Heaven  to 
the  Ungodly. 

I  KNOW  many  will  be  ready  to  think,  if  this  be  all^ 
tliey  do  not  much  care  :  what  care  they  for  loHng 
the  perfedions  above  ?  What  care  they  for  loilr.g 
God,  liis  favour,  or  his  prefencc  ?  They  h'ved  mer- 
rily without  tiirn  on  earth,  and  why  fliould  it  be  fo 
grievous  to  be  witliout  !iim  hereafter:  and  what  care 
they  for  being  deprived  of  that  love,  and  gov,  and 
praifing  of  God  I  I'hey  never  tafitd  fweetncis  in  the 
thinirs  oi  that  nature  ;  or  what  gare  they  foi  being  de- 
prived I'f  the  fellowfliip  of  angels  and  faints  ?  They 
could  iparc  their  company   in  this  world  well  enough, 

aud 


92      77?^  SiiinH  Everlajllng  Re/l, 

and  why  may  they  not  be  without  it  in  the  world  ta 
come  ?  l"o  make  thefe  men  therefore  undcrlland  the 
truth  of  their  future  condition,  I  will  here  annex  thefe 
two  things  : 

1.  I  will  fhew  you  why  this  lofs  will  be  intolera- 
ble, and  moft  tormenting  then,  though  it  fcem  as  no- 
thing now. 

2.  I  will  fhew  you  what  other  lofTes  will  accompany 
thefe;  which,  though  they  are  lefs  in  thcrafelves,  yet 
will  now  be  more  ftnfibly  apprehended. 

I.  Then,  That  this  lofs  of  heaven  will  be  moft  tor- 
menting, may  appear  by  thefe  confiderations. 

I..  The  underftandings  of  the  ungodly  will  be  then- 
cleared,  to  know  the  worth  of  that  which  they  have 
loft.  Now  they  lament  not  their  lofs  of  God,  becaufe 
they  never  knew  his  excellency,  noi  the  lofs  of  that 
holy  employment  and  fociely,  for  they  wete  never 
fenfible  what  they  were  \vortii<  A  man  that  hath  loft 
a  jewel,  and  took  it  but  for  a  common  ftone,  is  never 
troubled  at  his  lofs ;  but  when  he  comes  to  know  what, 
he  has  loft,  then  helamenteth  it. 

Though  the  underftandings  of  the  damned  will  not 
then  be*  fan6^ififd  ;  yet  will  they  be  cleared  from  a 
multitude  of  errors.  They  think  now  that  their  lio- 
nour,  their  eftates,  their  pleafures,  their  health  and 
life,  are  better  worth  their  labour,  than  the  things  of 
another  world  ;  but  when  thefe  things  which  had  thtir 
hearts,  have  left  them  in  mifery,  when  ihey  know  by 
experience,  the  things  which  before  they  did  but  read 
and  hear  of,  they  will  be  quite  in  nn^ther  uiind. 
They  would  not  believe  that  water  would  drown,  till 
they  were  in  tlie  fea  ;  nor  that  the  fiie  would  burn, 
till  thej  were  call  into  it  j  but  when  they  feel  it,  the/ 

will 


The  Sill  fits  Even  a/ling  Reft.       93 

win 'eafily  believe.  All  that  error  of  their  mind,  which 
made  them  fet  light  by  God,  and  abhor  his  worfhip, 
and  viiify  his  people,  will  then  be  removed  by  e'-;peri- 
dice  ;  their  knowledge  fliall  be  incteafcd,  that  their 
forrou'3  may  be  increafed.  Donbtlefs  thofe  po '•r  foul$ 
would  be  compr^rativfly  happy,  if  their  iinderft^i-idings 
were  wholly  taken  from  them,  If  they  had  no  more 
knowledge  than  idiots,  or  brute  beads  ;  or  if  tiiey 
knew  no  more  in  hell,  than  they  did  upcn  earth,  their 
lofs  and  mifery  would  then  lefs  trouble  them. 

How  happy  would  they  now  think  themfclves  if 
they  did  not  know  there  is  fuch  a  place  as  henvi.n  ? 
Now  when  their  knowledge  would  help  to  prevent  their 
mil'ery,  they  will  not  know;  but  then  when  their  know- 
ledge wijl  but  feed  their  confuming  fire,  they  fhall 
know  whether  they  will  or  no. 

2.  The  lofs  of  heaven  will  more  torment  them  then, 
becaufe,  as  tlie  undc-rflanding  will  be  cleared,  fo  it 
will  be  more  eniarj^ed.  and  made  more  capacious,  to 
conceive  of  the  worth  of  that  glory  which  they  have 
loft.  Tlie  ftrcncrth  of  their  apprthenfions.  as  well  ai 
the  truth  of  them,  will  then  be  increafed.  Wliat 
deep  apprehenfionsof  the  wrath  of  God,  of  the  mnd- 
nefs  of  finning,  of  the  mifery  of  fmners,  have  thefc 
fouls  that  now  endure  this  mifery,  in  comparifon  of 
thf)fe  on  eaith  that  do  but  henr  c.f  it  ?  What  fenfible 
apprehtnfions  of  the  worth  uf  life,  hath  the  condemn- 
ed man  th.at  is  goinj^  to  he  cKccuted,  in  comparifon 
of  what  he  was  wont  to  have  in  the  time  of  h's  prof- 
J)erity  ?  Much  more  will  the  aftnal  deprivation  of 
eternal  blefiedncfs  m-i-ike  the  damned  exceeding  appre- 
henfive  of  the  greatnefs  of  their  lofs  :  and  as  ?.  hrge 
veffel  will  hold  more  water  than  a  (hell,  fo  will  their 
more  enlarged  underftandings  contain  more  matter  to 
feed  their  torment,  than  now  their  (hallow  capacity 
c«Q  do. 

3.  And 


94      The  Saints  Everlajling  Rtjl. 

3.  And  as  the  damned  will  have  deeper  apprehen- 
fions  of  the  happinefs  they  have  loft,  fo  will  they  have 
a  clofer  application  of  this  dodlrine  to  themfelves, 
which  will  exceedingly  tend  to  increafe  their  torment. 
It  will  then  be  no  hard  matter  for  them  to  fay.  this 
is  my  lofs,  and  this  is  my  everlafting  mifery.  The 
want  of  this  is  the  mnin  caufe  why  they  are  now  fo 
little  troubled  at  their  condition  ;  they  are  hardly 
brought  to  believe  that  there  is  fuch  a  ftate  of  mifery, 
but  more  hardly  to  believe  that  it  is  like  to  be  their 
own.  This  makes  fo  many  fermons  to  be  loft,  and 
all  thrcatenings  and  warnings  prove  in  vaia.  Let  a 
minirter  of  Chrift  fhew  them  their  mifery  never  ^o 
plainly,  they  will  not  be  perfuaded  that  they  ate  fo 
mifcrable.  Let  him  tell  them  of  the  glory  they  mulV 
lofe,  and  the  fufferings  they  muft  'i*t^,  and  they  think 
it  is  not  they  whom  he  means.  We  find  in  all  oup 
preaching*  by  fad  experience,  that  it  is  one  cf  the  hard- 
eft  things  in  the  world  to  brisg  a  wicked  man  to  know 
that  he  is  wicked  ;  a  man  that  is  in  the  way  to  hell, 
to  know  that  he  ia  in  that  way  ;  or  to  make  a  man  fee 
himfclf  in  a  ftate  of  wrath  and  condemnation  :  how 
feldom  do  we  hear  men,  after  the  plaineft  difcovery  of 
their  condemned  ftate,  cry  out,  Iamiheman\  or  to 
acknowledge,  that  if  they  die  in  their  prefent  conditi- 
on, they  are  undone  for  ever. 

There  is  no  perfuading  men  of  their  mifery  till  theyr 
feel  it,  except  the  Spirit  of  the  Almighty  perfuadcc 
them. 

Oh,  but  when  they  findthemfelvesfuddenly  in  the  land 
of  daiknefs,  perceive  by  the  extcution  of  the  fentence- 
that  they  were  indeed  condemned,  and  ftel  themfelves 
in  the  fcorching  flames,  and  fee  that  they  are  ftiut  out 
of  tlie  prefence  of  God  for  ever,  it  will  then  be  no 
feich  difficult  matter  to  convince  tliem  of  their  mifery  : 
this  particular  application  of  God's  anger  to  thera^ 

f^lves. 


The  Saints  H^erlafting  Rejl.      g^ 

felves,  will  then  be  the  eafieft  matter  in  the  world; 
then  they  cj^n not  choofc  but  know  and  apply  it,  whe- 
ther they  will  or  no. 

4.  Again,  as  the  underftandings  and  confciences 
of  finncrs  will  be  ftrengthened,  fo  will  their  afFedtiona 
be  more  lively  and  enlarged  :  as  judgment  will  be  no 
longer  blinded,  nor  confcience  ftifled,  fo  the  affefli- 
ons  will  be  no  longer  ftupified.  A  hard  heart  now 
makes  heaven  and  hell  feem  but  trifles :  and  when  we 
iiave  fhewed  them  everlalling  glory  and  mifery,  they 
are  as  men  half  afleep,  they  fcarce  take  notice  what 
we  fay,  our  words  are  caft  as  ftones  againft  a  hard 
wall,  which  fly  back  in  the  face  of  him  that  cafteth 
them.  We  talk  of  terrible  aftonifhing  things,  but  it 
is  to  dead  men  that  cannot  apprehend  it :  we  fpeak 
to  rocks  rather  than  to  men  :  the  earth  will  as  foon 
tremble  as  they.  But  when  thefe  dead  wrfelches  are 
revived,  what  paffionate  fenfibility  !  what  working 
effedlions  !  what  pangs  of  horror  !  what  depth  of  for- 
row  will  there  then  be  !  How  violently  will  they  fly 
HI  their  own  faces  !  How  will  they  rage  againfl;  their 
former  madnefs  !  The  lamentations  of  the  moft  palli- 
onate  wife'for  the  lofs  of  her  hufl:>and,  or  of  the  ten- 
dered mother  for  the  lofs  of  her  children,  will  be  no- 
thing to  theirs  for  the  lofs  of  heaven.  Oh,  the  felf- 
accufing,  and  felf-tormenting  fury  of  thofe  forlorn 
wretches  !  How  they  will  even  tear  their  own  hearts, 
and  be  God's  executioners  upon  themfelves  I  I  am 
perfuaded,  as  it  was  none  but  themfelves  that  com- 
mitted the  fin,  and  themfelves  that  were  the  meritori- 
ous caufe  of  their  fuff"erings,  fo  themfelves  will  be  the 
chief  executioners  of  thofe  fufferings.;  God  will  have 
it  fo  for  the  clearing  of  his  juftice  :  even  Satan  him- 
felf,  as  he  was  not  fo  great  a  caufe  of  their  finning  as 
themfelves,  fo  will  he  not  be  fo  great  an  inftrument 
«f  their  torment.  How  happy  would  you  think  your- 
ielves  then,  if  you  were  turned  into  rocks,  cr   any 

thing 


g6     The  Saints  Everlajling  Rtjt, 

thing  that  had  neither  paflion  nor  fcnfe  !  How  happy 
were  you.  if  you  could  now  feel,  as  lightly  as  you 
were  wont  to  hear  !  And  if  you  could  iltep  out  the 
time  of  execution,  as  yon  did  the  time  of  thefeimons 
that  warned  you  of  it !  But  your  ilupidlty  is  gone,  it 
will  not  be. 

5.  Moreover,  it  will  much  increafe  the  torment  of 
the  dan)ned,  that  their  men-'.oric^s  will  be  as  large  and 
ftrong  as  their  undenlandings  and  afFe6lions.  Were 
their  Icifs' never  fo  grrat,  and  their  fenfe  of  it  never  fo 
pafiirnate,  yet  if  tiicv  could  bat  lofe  the  ufe  of  their 
memory,  thofe  paffioos  would  die,  and  that  lofs,  be- 
ing for«^-otten,  would  little  trouble  them.  But  as 
they  cannot  lay  by  their  life  and  being,  fo  neither 
can  they  lay  afide  any  part  of  that  being.  Under* 
(lauding,  confcience,  affe6lions,  memory,  mud  alllive 
to  torment  them,  which  fhould  have  helped  to  their 
happinefs.  And  as  b)  thefe  they  iliould  have  fed  up- 
on the  love  of  God.  and  drawn  forth  perpetually  the 
joys  of  his  preftnce  ;  fo  by  thtfe  mull  thiy  nc/W  feed 
upon  the  wrath  of  God,  and  draw  forth  continually 
the  pains  of  his  abfence. 

And  yet  thefe  men  would  never  be  brought  to  con- 
fider ;  bur  in  the  latter  days  faith  the  Lord)  they 
fhali  perfeftly  confider  it :  when  they  are  enfnared  in 
the  work  of  their  own  hands  :  when  God  hath  arrett- 
ed them,  and  judgment  is  pafled  upon  them,  ^nd  ven* 
geance  is  poured  out  upon  them  to  the  full,  then  they 
canuot  choofe  but  confider  it  whether  they  will  or  no. 
Now  they  have  no  Icifure  to  confider,  nor  any  room' 
in  their  memories  for  the  things  of  another  life.  But 
then  they  fhall  have  leifure  enough,  they  fhall  be 
wliere  they  have  nothing  elfe  to  do  ;  their  memories 
Ihall  have  no  olher  employment,  it  fhall  be  engraven 
upon  the  tables  of  their  hearts.  God  would  have 
liad  the  dodbine  of  their  ctern?.l  ilate  to  have  been 

writteu 


The  Saints  EverlaJIing  ReJI,      97 

'vrrittcn  on  tlie  pods  of  their  doors,  on  their  houf^s,  on 
their  hands,  and  on  their  hearts  :  and  feeing  they  re- 
jefted  this  counfcl  of  the  Lord,  thcrefoic  Hiall  vc  be 
written  always  before  them  in  the  place  of  their  thral- 
dom, that  which  way  foever  they  look,  they  rnay  dill 
behold  it. 

I  will  briefly  lay  down  fonic  of  thofe  confiderati- 
ons,  which  will  thus  feed  the  anguidi  of  thefc  damntd 
wretches. 

T .  It  will  torment  them  to  think  of  the  greatnefs  of 
the  glory  which  they  have  lod.  O  if  it  had  been  that 
which  they  could  have  fpared,  it  had  been  a  fmall  mat- 
ter :  Or.  if  it  had  been  a  lofs  reparable  with  any  thing 
elfe  ;  if  it  had  been  health,  or  wealth,  or  friends,  or 
life,  it  had  been  rothiifig  ;  but  \.o\oic  thai  exceeding^ 
and  eternal  iveight  of  glory  ! 

2.  It  will  torment  them  to  think   of  the  poiTibility 
that  once'  they  were  in  of  obtaining   it.     I'iien  they 
will  remember,  the  time  was,  when  I  was  in  as  fair  a 
poflibility  of  the   kingdom  as  others  ;  I  was  fet  upi.-a 
the  llage  of  the  world  ;  if  I  had  played  my  part  wifely 
and  faithfully,  now  I  might  have  had  pofkfI:oii  of  the 
inheritance  ;   I  might  have  been  amongft  yont'er  blef- 
fcd  faints,  who  am  now  tormented  with  ihefv  damnei 
fiends  !   The  Lord  did  fet  before  me  life    and  dea't-{i, 
and  having  chofen    death,  I    dtferve  to  C'jffer  it  :^/ the 
pri^;e  was  once  held  out  before  me  ;  if  I  had  ruvj  well, 
I   might  have  obtained  it :  if   I   had  fctiven,  \  might 
have  had  the  niadery  ^  if  I  had  fougU'w  valian*  Jiy^  I  had 
been  crowned, 

./ 

3.  It  will  yet  more  torment  thf.m  to  r  ^-member,  not 
only  the  poffib'lfty,  but  the  great  p  ^babllity  that 
once  they  were  in,  to  obtain  the  crow  ^  \^  ^vill  thea 
wound  th<;m,  to  think  :  why,  I   h^  ^d   once  the  rales 

I  "   of 

/ 


98     The  Saints  E'uerla/Iing  Reft, 

of  the  Spirit  ready-  to  have  aflifted  mc.  I  was  fullv- 
puipofed  to  have  been  another  man,  to  have  cleaved 
to  Chnfl,  and  to  have  forfook  the  world  ;  I  vv'as  al- 
nioft  refolved  to  have  been  wholly  for  God  :  I  had 
even  caft  cfF  my  old  companions,  and  yet  I  turned 
back,  and  loft  my  hold,  and  broke  my  promifes,  and 
Slacked  my  purpofes ;  almoil  God  had  perfuaded  m.e 
to  be  a  real  chriilian,  and  yet  I  conquered  ihofe  per- 
fuafions.  V\  hat  v/orkings  weie  in  my  heart,  when 
a  faithful  minifter  pvefTed  home  the  truth  I  O  how 
fair  was  I  once  for  heaven  !  I  had  alraoft  had  it,  and 
yet  I  have  loll  it  ;  if  1  had  but  followed  on  to  feek 
the  Loid,  and  biov/n  up  the  fparks  of  defire  which 
were  kindled  in  me,  1  had  now  been  bleffed  among  the 
iaints. 

4.  Yet  further,  it  will  much  add  to  their  torment 
to  reniember  that  God  bimfclf  did  condefcend  to  en* 
treat  them  :  how  long  he  did  wait,  how  freely  he  did 
ctfer,  how' lovingly  he  did  invite,  and  how  importu- 
nately he  did  folicit  them  !  how  the  Spirit  did  con- 
tinue flriving  with  thtir  hearts,  as  if  he  were  loth  to 
take  a  denial :  how  Chrift  ilood  knocking  at  the  door 
<jf  tlieir  hearts,  feimon  after  fermon,  and  one  fabbath 
jafter  another  ;  cr}ing  out,  open,  finner,  open  thy 
heart  to  the  Saviour,  and  /  ii'iil  ccmc  tn  and  jup  iL'uh 
lUe  and  thou  ii'ith  me.  Why  doft  thcu  thus  delay  ? 
What  doll  tbou  mean,  that  tl.ou  doft  not  open  to  me  ? 
How  long  fi>all  it  be  till  thou  attain  to  innottncy  ? 
jficr'-  If^j^  JhiiU  ihy  la'in  thoughls  Ico^e  ti'ithin  thee  P  Wo 
to  thee,  O  unworthy  fmner !  Will  thou  not  be  made 
-clean  I  Wilt  thou  not  be  pardoned  and  faii(ftified,  and 
rr;ac]c  happy  ?  Wheo  fl^all  ii  one-  be  :  O  that  thou 
wouldft  hearken  to  my  word,  and  obey  my  gofpel ! 
^T hen  Jhou'id  tJyy  peace  he  as  the  ri-vr,  ana  thy  right eouf- 
nefs  as  the  waves  of  the  feu  :  though  ihy  Jms  i  ere  as  red 
OS  ctimfon,  I  nxov-ld  m  he  ihtm  as  ivhitt-  as  ihc  fncw  :  0 
ihat  ihou   in  ere   lui   li-fe  to  anfnkr  this  !  and  that  thou 

<WQuldJl 


The  Saints  EverLiJling  Rcfl.      99 

ivouhjjl  in  firm  remsmh^r  thy  latter  endy  befoie  the  evil 
days  come  upon  thee,  and  the  years  draiv  n't^h^  'zvb-n 
thou  fioalt  fav  of  all  thy  vain  del'r^hts,  I  have  no  phajure 
in  them  !  Why  (inner  1  (Tiall  thy  Maker  thus  befpeak 
thee  ill  vai;»  ?  Shall  the  God  of  all  tiie  world  befcccli 
thee  to  be  happy,  and  befeech  thee  to  have  pity  upon 
thine  own  foul,  and  wilt  thou  not  regard  him  ?  Why 
did  he  make  thy  ears  but  to  hear  his  voice  ?  Why  d'd 
he  make  thy  underltanding,  but  to  confider  ?  Or  thy 
heart,  but  to  entertain  tlio  Son  i\\  love  ?  Thus  Ja'uh  ths 
Lordof  hojlsf  conftddr  thy  ".vays. 

O  how  all  thtfe  pafTionate  pleadin,j;3  of  Chrifl:  will 
paffionately  tranfpovt  the  damned  with  fcif  indigna- 
tion !  That  thty  will  be  ready  to  tear  out  their  owrt 
hearts!  How  frefh  will  the  .remembrance  of  ther;  be 
ftill  in  their  minds,  lancing  their  fouls  with  renewed 
torments  !  what  felf-condemning  p:mgs  will  it  raife 
within  them,  to  remember  how  oft  Clnid  would  have 
gathered  them  to  \\\mh\'i  even  as  the  hni  gatheret!-  her 
chi-krns  under  her  'zi-inos,  but  they  ivnuhl  not  ?  Ti.<  n 
will  they  cry  out  againll  themftlves,  how  juftly  ii  all 
this  befallen  me  !  Mu!l  I  tire  out  the  patiencr  of 
Chrift?  Mud  I  make  the  God  of  heaven  to  follow  me 
in  vain,  till  I  had  wcarit.d  him  with  crying  to  me  e* 
pent,  return  P  Muil  the  Lord  of  all  the  woild  thus 
wait  upon  me,  and  all  in  vain  ?  O  how  julliy  is  th.at 
patience  now  turned  into  fury,  whicli  falls  upon  my 
foul  with  irrefiflible  violence  !  when  the  Lord  cried 
out  to  me  in  his  word,  How  kno  ivi/l  it  be  befoie  thou 
ivi't  be  made  clean  and  holy  ?  My  heart,  or  at  lead  my 
praftice  anfwercd,  never  ;  I  will  never  be  fo  precile  : 
and  now  when  I  cry  out,  how  long  will  it  be  till  t 
be  freed  from  this  torment,  and  faved  with  the  faints  ! 
howjudlydo  I  receive  the  anfvver !  never-never! — 
Oh  fmner,  I  befeech  thee  for  thy  own  fake,  think  of 
th.s  while  the  voice  of  mercy  foundeth  in  thine  ears  1 
Ytt    p-iiienge  continueth    waiting    upon  thee ;  canfl: 

tho'a 


ICO    The  Saints  Everlajling  Rejl. 

thou  think  it  will 'do  fo  ftill  ?  Yet  the  offers  of  Chrlfl 
and  life  are  made  to  thee  in  tlie  gofptl,  and  the  hand 
of  God  is  llretclied  out  to  thee  :  but  will  it  Hill  be 
thus  ?  The  Spirit  hafh  not  yet  done  ilriving  with  thy 
heart :  but  doft  thou  know  how  foon  he  may  turn 
away,  and  give  thee  over  to  a  reprobate  mind  ?  Thou 
haft  yet  life,  and  time,  and  ftrength,  and  means :  but 
doft  thou  think  that  this  life  will  always  laft  ?  Ohfeek 
the  hord  •z'jhile  he  may  be  founds  and  call  upon  htm  ivh'tU 
hs  h  near  :  he  that  hath  an  ear  to  hear  let  him  hear  what 
Chrift  now  fpeaketh  to  his  foul.  '  And  to-clayy  ivhile  it 
is  called  to-dcy,  harden  not  your  hearts ,  lejl  he  Jkvear  in 
hfs  ivrnih  that  ynu  JJmll  never  enter  into  his  rtjl.  For 
ever  blelTed  is  he,  that  halh  a  hcaiing   heart  and  ear. 


5.  iAgain,  It  will  be  a  moft  cutting  confideration 
to  thefe,  to  remember  on  what  eafy  terms  they  might 
have  efcaped  their  mifery.  If  their  work  had  been  to 
lemove  mountains,  to  conquer  kingdoms,  then  the 
impoffibllity  would  fomewhat  afTuage  the  rage  of  their 
feif-accufing  confcience.  If  their  conditions  for  hea- 
ven had  been,  the  fatisfying  of  juftice  for  all  their 
tranfgrefiions,  the  fuffcring  of  all  the  law  did  lay  up- 
on them,  or  bearing  the  burden  which  Chrift  was  fain 
to  bear  ;  this  were  nothing  but  to  fuffer  hell  to  efcape 
hell.  But  their  conditions  were  of  another  nature. 
The  yoke  was  light  and  the  burden  was  eafy,  which 
Jefus  Chrift  would  have  laid  upon  them  ;  his  com- 
mandnncnts  were  not  grievous.  It  was  but  to  repent 
and  accept  him  as  their  Saviour  ;  to  ftudy  his  will, 
and  fcek  his  face  j  to  renounce  all  other  happinefs,  but 
that  which  he  procurcth  us,  and  to  take  the  Lord 
ah-Mie  foj  our  fupreme  good  ;  to  rei.ounce  the  govern- 
ment of  the  world  and  the  flcfh,  and  to  fubmit  to  his 
mt<k  and  gta;.ious  government  ;  to  for  fake  the  ways 
pfviirovvn  dwvifir/g,  and  to  walk  in  his  holy  de- 
ligulful   way  \   to  engage  ourfclYes  to  this  by  cove- 

aant 


The  Saints  Everlajiing  Reft.    loi 

Hant  with  him,  and  to  continue  faithful  in  that  co- 
venant. 

Thefe  were  the  terms  on  which  they  might  have  en- 
joyed the  kingdom.  And  was  there  any  thing  unrea- 
fonabie  in  all  this  ?  Was  it  a  hard  bargain  to  have  hea- 
ven upon  thefe  conditions  I 

When  the  poor  wretch  fhall  look  back  upon  thefe 
cafy  terms  which  he  refufed,  and  compare  the  labour 
of  them  with  the  pains  and  lofs  which  he  there  fultain- 
cth,  it  cannot  be  now  conceived  how  it  will  rent  his 
very  heart  !  Ah,  thinks  he,  how  juftly  do  1  fuffer  all 
this,  who  would  nut  be  at  fa  fmall  pains  to  avoid  it ; 
Where  was  my  underfianding  when  1  negletled  thy 
gracious  offer  ;  when  I  called  the  Lord  a  hard  mailer  ; 
and  thought  his  pleafant  fervice  to  be  a  bondage,  and 
the  ftr%ice  of  the  devil  and  my  ilefli  to  be  the  only 
freedom  ?  Was  ]  not  a  thoufand  times  worfe  than  mad, 
when  1  cenfured  the  holy  way  of  God,  as  needlefs- 
precifenefs?  and  cried  out  on  it,  ?s  an  intolerabi*j 
burden  \  When  I  thought  the  laws  of  Chrill  too  (triifl  ; 
and  all  too  m.uch,  that  1  did  for  the  life  to  come  ?  O, 
what  had  all  the  trouble  of  duty  been,  in  comparifon 
of  the  trouble  I  now  fuilain  ?  Or  all  the  fulTerings  for 
Chrid  and  well-doing,  in  comparifon  of  thefe  fuffer- 
ings  that  I  muft  undergo  for  ever  ?  What  if  I  had  fpent 
my  days  in  the  Uridlell  life  ?  What  if  I  had  lived  lliU 
upon  my  knees?  What  if  I  had  loft  my  credit  with 
men  ?  and  been  hated  of  all  men  for  the  fake  of  Chiid  ? 
and  borne  the  reproach  of  the  foolilh  ?  What  if  I  had 
been  imprifoned,  or  baniditd,  or  put  to  death  ^.  O, 
what  had  alkhis  been  to  the  mifcries  th.at  1  now  futftr  ! 
Would  not  the  heaven  which.  I  have  loll,  have  recom- 
penfed  all  my  lofies  ?  and  fliould  not  all  my  fufferings 
have  been  there  forgotten  ?  What  if  Chrifthnd  bid  me 
do  fome  great  matter  ?  as  to  live-  in  continual  tears  ar-d 
ibrrow,  lo  fuffer  death  a  hundred  times  over  l  ^which- 

i   .3.  -^^^ 


102    7/!?^  Saints  EverJqfthig  Reft. 

yet  lie  did  not  ^  fliould  I  rot  have  done  it  ?  How  much 
more,  when  he  faid  but,  believe^  and  be  faved :  feek  mf 
faccy  and  thy  foul  fli all  live  :  love  me  above  aJl,  ^zialk  in 
my  Jived  and  hdly  tudv,  take  up  thy  crofs  and  foil otv  me, 
and  I  mUl  favs  thee  from  the  'wrath  of  Gody  and  J  iciil 
glvs  tk-e  everlufi'w^  life.  O  gracious  offer  !  O  eafy 
terms  !  O  curfed  wretch,  that  would  not  be  peifuaded 
to  acctpt  them  ! 

6.  This  alio  will  be  a  moft  tormenting  confiderati- 
ou,  to  remember  what  they  fold  their  eternal  welfare 
ior.  "When  ihey  con^ipare  the  value  of  the  pkafuresof 
fin  with  the  value  of  tiie  rtcon':pence  of  reward,  how 
will  the  vatt  difproportion  aftonifh  thera  !  To  think  of 
a  few  pleafant  cups,  or  fweet  m(^rfcls,  a  little  eafe,  or 
low  delight  to  the  flcfli  ;  and  then  to  think  of  everlaft- 
ing  glory  !  What  a  vaft  difference  between  them  will 
then  appear  !  To  think,  this  is  all  I  had  for  ray  foul, 
iny  God,  my  hopes  of  blcffednefs  !  It  cannot  pofiibly 
be  ^xpreffed  how  thtfe  thoughts  will  tear  his  heart. 
Thi^u  will  he  exclaim  againfl  his  folly,  O  miferable 
wretch  !  Did  1  fct  my  foul  to  fale  forfo  bafe  a  price  ? 
Did  I  part  with  my  God  for  a  little  dirt  and  drofs  ? 
and  fell  my  Saviour,  ^s^udaj,  for  a  little  fdver  ?  O  foi* 
how  fmnll  a  matter  have  I  parted  with  ray  happinefs ! 
I  had  but  a  dream  of  delight,  for  my  hopes  of  heaven  : 
and  now  I  am  awaked,  It  is  all  vanifhed  :  where  are 
310W  my  honours  and  attendance  ?  My  morfels  are  now 
turned  to  gall,  and  my  cups  to  worm. wood.  They  de- 
lighted me  no  longer  than  while  they  were  palling 
down  ;  and  is  this  all  I  have  had  for  the  Ineftimable 
ircafure  ?  O  what  a  m.ad  exchange  did  i  make  !  What 
if  I  had  gained  all  the  world,  and  loft  my  fojul  ?  But 
alas,  how  huall  a  part  of  the  world    was   it,  for  which 

1  gave  up  my  part  of  glory  ! O  that  fmners  would 

think  of  this,  when  they  are  fwimming  in  delights, 
and  iiudying  to  be  rich  and  honourable  !  When  they 
are  defutvately  venturing  upon  known  tranfgreffion, 
a;id  finning  againil  the  checks  of  confcience  I 

7.  Yet 


i 


The  Saints  Everlajihtg  Reft.     103 

7.  Yet  much  more  will  it  add  unto  their  torment, 
v/hen  they  coufider  that  all  this  was  their  own  doings, 
and  that  they  wilfully  procured  their  own  deftruC^ion  : 
had  they  been  forced  to  fin,  it  would  much  abate  the 
rage  of  their  confciences,  or  if  they  were  punifhed 
for  another  man's  tranfgrcffions  :  or  if  any  other  had 
been  the  chief  author  of  their  ruin  :  but  to  think, 
that  it  was  the  choice  of  their  own  wills,  and  that 
God  had  fct  them  in  fo  free  a  condition,  that  none 
in  the  world  could  have  forced  them  to  fm  againft 
their  wills,  this  will  be  a  griping  thought.  What, 
(thinks  this  wretched  creature)  had  I  not  enemies 
enough  m  the  world,  but  1  muft  be  an  enemy  to  my- 
ftlf?  God  would  neither  give  the  devil,  nor  the 
world,  fo  much  power  over  me,  as  to  force  me  to 
commit  the  lean  tranfgreflion.  If  1  had  not  confented, 
their  temptations  had  been  in  vain  ;  they  could  but  en- 
tice me,  it  was  myfelf  that  yielded,  and  did  the  evil  ; 
and  1  mud  needs  lay  hands  upon  my  own  foul,  and 
imbrue  my  hands  in  my  own  blood.  Who  fhould  pi- 
ty me,  who  pitied  not  myfelf,  and  who  brought  all 
this  upon  mine  own  head  ?  Never  did  God  do  me 
any  good,  or  offer  me  any  for  the  welfare  of  my  foul, 
but  I  refifted  him  :  he  hath  heaped  mercy  upon  me, 
and  renewed  one  deliverance  after  another,  to  entice 
my  heart  to  him,  and  yet  was  I  never  heartily  willing 
to  ferve  him  :  he  hath  gently  chaftifed  me,  and  made 
me  groan  under  the  fruit  of  my  difobedience,  and  yet, 
though  I  promifed  largely  in  my  afHiclion,  1  was  ne- 
ver unfcignedly  willing  to  obey  him. 

Thus  will  it  gnaw  the  hearts  of  thefe  wretches,  to 
remember  that  they  were  the  caufe  of  their  undoing  ; 
and  that  they  wilfully  and  obliinately  pcrliftcd  in  their 
rebellion,  and  were  mere  volunteers  in  the  fervice  of 
the  devil.  They  would  venture,  they  would  go  on, 
they  would  not  hear  him  that  fpoke  againll  it  ;  God 
called  to  them  to  hear  aud  Hay,  but  they  would  net  : 

men 


104    '^^^  Saints  Everlafling  Reft, 

men  called,  confcience  called,  and  fald  to  them,  ''as 
P'tlaU\  wife)  ha'oe  nothing  to  do  nvuh  that  hateful  fin; 
for  I  have  fvffered  muny  things  hecaufe  of  it  ;  but  they 
would  not  hear  ;  their  will  was  their  law,  their  lule^ 
ffiid  their  ruin. 

8.  Lofl.y.,  It  xvill  yet  make  the  wound  in  their  con- 
fciences  much  deeper,  when  tlity  Hiall  remcmher, 
that  it  was  not  only  their  own  doing,  but  that  they 
were  at  fo  much  coil  and  pains  for  their  own  damna- 
tion. What  great  undertakings  did  thty  engage  m 
to  t'^a^  their  ruin,  to  refill  God,  to  conquer  the 
Spirit,  to  overcome  the  power  of  mercies,  judgments, 
and  the  word  itfelf,  to  fiknce  confcience  ?  All  this 
they  did  take  upon  tliem  and  perform.  What  a  num- 
ber of  fins  did  they  manage  at  once  !  What  difiiculties 
did  they  ftt  upon  !  Even  the  conquering  the  pow-er 
cf  reafon  itfelf^  What  dangers  did  they  adventure 
on  !  Though  they  walked  in  continual  danger  of  the 
wratli  of  God,  and  knew  he  could  lay  them  in  the 
dull  in  a  moment  ;  though  they  knew  they  lived  in 
danger  of  eternal  perdition,  yet  would  they  run  upon 
all  this.  What  did  they  forfake  for  the  fervice  of 
Satan  and  the  pleafures  of  fin  ?  They  forfook  their 
God,  their  confcience,  their  bell  friends,  their  hones 
of  lalvaiion. 

Oh  the  labour  that  it  cofteth  poor  wretches  to  be 
damned!  Sobiicty  they  miglit  have  at  a  cheaper  rate, 
and  a  great  deal  of  health  and  eafe  too  ;  and  yet  they 
will  lather  have  gluttony  and  drunkcnnefs,  with  po- 
verty and  fnarae  and  ficknefs,  with  the  ouc-cries  and 
lanncntations  of  wife  and  children,  and  confcience  it- 
felf. Contentednefs  tht?y  might  have  with  eafe  and 
-delight;  yet  will  they  rather  liave  covetoufnefs  and 
arn!)ition  ;  though  it  C(j(l  them  ftudy,  and  cares,  and 
fears,  and  labour  of  body  and  mind,  and  continual 
unquietnefs  and  diHra^^ioa  of  fpirit.     Though  their 


i 


The  Saints  Everlajling  Reji.     105 

anger  be  nolhing  but  a  tormenting  themfclves,  and 
revenge  and  envy  confume  ibeir  fpin'ts,  and  keep  them 
upon  a  continual  rack  ;  thongh  uncleannefs  dellroy 
their  bodies,  and  eliatcs,  and  names  ;  yet  will  tluy 
do  and  fufFer  all  this,  rather  than  fuffer  their  fuuis 
to  be  faved. 

O  how  the  reviews  of  this  will  feed  the  flames  in 
hell  !  With  what  rage  will  thefc  damned  wietclies 
cnrfc  themfelves,  and  fay,  was  damnation  worth  all 
this  cod  and  pains?  Was  it  not  enough  that  I  pcvifli- 
ed  througli  my  negligence,  and  that  I  fat  ilill  while 
.Sa/^n  played  his  game,  but  I  miift  feek  fo  diligently 
my  own  perdition  ?  Might  I  not  have  been  damned 
on  free  coft,  but  I  mud  purchafe  it  fo  deatly  ?  I 
thought  I  could  iiave  been  faved  without  fo  much  ado  : 
and  could  I  not  have  been  deftioyed  without  fo  much 
ado  ?  How  well  is  all  my  care,  and  pains,  and  vio- 
lence now  requited  I  Mud  I  work  out  fo  labovioufly 
my  own  damnation,  wlien  God  commanded  me  to 
work  out  my  falvation  ?  O  if  I  had  done  as  much 
for  heaven  as  I  did  for  hell,  I  had  furely  had  it.  I 
cried  out  of  the  tedious  way  of  godlinefs  ;  and  yet  I 
could  be  at  more  pains  for  Satan,  and  for  death.  If  I 
had  loved  Chrid  as  Rrongly  as  I  did  my  pleafures,  and 
profits,  and  honors,  and  thought  on  him  as  often, 
and  fought  him  as  painfully,  O  how  happy  had  I  now 
been  !  But  judly  do  I  fuffer  the  flames  of  hell,  who 
would  rather  buy  them  fo  dear,  than  have  heavea 
when  it  was  purchafed  to  my  hands. 

Thus  I  have  fliewed  you  fome  of  thofe  thoughts 
which  will  aggravate  the  mifery  of  thefe  wretches  for 
ever.  O  that  God  would  perfuade  thee,  who  readed; 
thefe  words,  to  take  up  ihcfe  thoughts  now,  for  the 
preventing  that  inconceivable  calamity,  fo  that  thou 
mayed  not  take  them  up  in  hell  as  thy  own  tormentor, 

CHA? 


[     io6     ] 
CHAP.     III. 

They Jhall  lofe  all  Things  that  are  comfcriahle^ 

as  well  as  Heaven, 


HAVING  flievved  you  thofe  confiderations  which 
will  then  aggravate  their  mifery,  1  am  next  to 
Hiew  you  their  additional  lofles,  which  will  aggravate 
it.  For  as  ^o  iiinefs  hath  the  promife  both  of  this  lifcf 
and  that  at'hich  is  to  ccme  :  and  as  God  hath  faid,  That 
if  we  'Jirft  feek  his  kingdom  and  ri^hteoufnefs,  all  things 
elfe  /hJl  he  added  to  us  :  fo  alfo  are  the  ungodly  tlireat- 
ened  with  the  lofs  both  ©f  fpiritual  and  of  corporal 
bleflings  ;  and  becaule  they  fought  not  firft  Chrift's 
kingdom  and  righteoufnefs,  therefore  fliall  they  lofe 
both  it,  and  that  which  they  did  feek,  and  there  fhall 
be  taken  from  thtm  even  that  little  which  they  have. 
If  they  could  but  have  kept  their  prefent  enjoyments, 
they  would  not  have  much  cared  for  the  lofs  of  hea- 
ven :  but  catching  at  the  fhadow  for  the  fubftance, 
they  now  find  they  have  loft  both  ;  and  that  when 
they  reje6led  Chrift,  they  reje«5^ed  all  things.  If  they 
had  loll  and  forfaken  all  for  Chrift,  they  would  have 
found  all  again  in  him  ;  for  lie  would  have  been  all 
In  all  to  them  :  but  now  they  have  forfaken  Cliriil  for 
othtT  things,  they  fhall  lofe  Chrift,  and  that  *;lfo  for 
which  they  did  forfake  him. 

But  I  will  particularly  open  to  you  feme  of  their 
other  loffes 

I.  They  (hall  lofe  their  prcfcnt  conceit  of  their  in- 
tereft  in  God,  and  of  his  favour  towards  tiiem,  and 
of  their  part  in  the  merits  and  fufFerings  of  Chrift. 
1  his  falfe  belief  doih  now  fupport  their  fpirits,  and 
defend  them  fiom  the  terrors  that  would  elfefeize  up- 


The  SaiJits  Everlajrlng  Rejl,    107 

«n  them  :  but  what  will  eafe  their  trouble  when  this 
1*6  gone  ?  When  they  can  believe  no  longer,  they  will 
be  quiet  no  longer.  If  a  man  conceit  that  he  is  in 
fafcty,  his  conceit  may  make  him  cheerful  till  his 
miftry  comes,  and  then  both  his  conceit  and  comibits 
vanifli. 

There  is  none  of  this  believing  in  hell ;  nor  any  per- 
fuafion  of  pardon  or  happinefs,  nor  any  boaftin^  of 
their  honefty,  nor  juftifying  themfelves.  This  was  but 
Satan  %  ftratagem,  that,  being  blindfold,  they  might 
follow  him  the  more  boldly  ;  but  then  he  will  uncover 
their  eyes,  and  they  fhall  fee  where  they  are. 

2.  Another  addition  to  the  mifery  of  the  damned 
will  be  this  :  that  with  the  lofs  of  heaven,  they  ihali 
lofe  all  their  hopes.  In  this  life,  though  they  were 
threatened  with  the  wrath  of  God,  yet  their  hope  of 
efcaping  it  did  bear  up  their  hearts.  We  can  now 
fcarce  fpeak  with  the  vileft  drunkard,  or  fwearer,  or 
fcorner,  but  he  hopes  to  be  faved  for  all  this.  O  hap- 
py world  !  if  falvation  were  as  common  as  this  hope  ; 
even  thofe  whofe  hcllifh  nature  is  written  in  the  face 
of  their  converfation,  whofe  tongues  plead  the  caufe 
of  the  devil,  and  fpeak  the  language  of  hell  ;  yet  llrong- 
ly  hope  for  heaven,  though  the  God  of  heaven  hath 
told  them  no  fuch  fhall  ever  come  there.  Nay,  fo 
llrong  are  men's  hopes,  that  they  will  difpute  the  caufc 
with  Chrift  himfelf  at  judgment,  and  plead  their  eating 
and  lir'inh'ing  in  his  prefence,  their  preaching  in  h  <;  name^ 
and cajling  out  devils^  (and  thefe  are  more  probable  ar- 
guments than  our  bapcifm,  and  common  profeflion, 
and  name  of  chriftlans;  they  will  ftiffly  deny  that  ever 
they  negleded  Chrill  in  hunger,  nake  Inn/sy  prifon,  till 
Chriil  confute  them  with  the  fentence  of  their  condem- 
nation. Though  the  heart  of  their  hopes  will  be  brok- 
en at  their  death  ;  yet,  it  feems,  they  would  fain  plead 
fcrfuch  hope  at  the  general  judgment. 

But, 


lo8     The  Saints  Everhjiing  Reft, 

But,  O  the  fad  ftate  of  thefc  men,  when  thi'v  muft- 
bid  farewell  to  all  their  hopes  !  when  their  hopes  fliall 
ali  pciifh  with  thein  !  The  ey€s  of  the  ixj'ichedjha.l  faiU 
and  their  hope  Jhall  be  as  the  ^fvinj  up  of  the  gho/l. 
The  giving  up  of  the  ghoft,  is  a  fit,  but  terrible  re- 
femblance  of  a  wicked  man's  giving  up  his  hopes 

For  FirJIi  as  the  foul  departeth  not  from  the  body 
without  the  gieatefi:  pain,  fo  doth  the  hope  of  the 
w  icked  depart.  O  the  pangs  that  feize  upon  the  foul 
of  the  finner  at  death  and  judgment,  when  he  is 
parting  with  all  his  hopes  ! 

Secondly,  The  foul  departeth  from  the  body  fudden- 
1y,  in  a  moment,  which  hath  there  delightfully  con- 
tinued fo  many  years ;  juft  fo  doth  the  hope  of  the 
wicked  depart. 

Thirdly,  The  foul  which  then  departeth,  will  never 
return  to  live  with  the  body  In  this  world  any  more  ; 
and  the  hope  of  the  wicked,  when  it  departeth,  tak- 
cth  an  everlafting  farewell  of  his  foul.  A  miracle  of 
refurreftlon  fliall  again  conjoin  the  foul  and  body, 
but  there  fhall  be  no  fuch  miraculous  refurredion  of 
the  daraned's  hope. 

Methiiiks  it  is  the  mofl:  doleful  fpe^lacle  that  this 
•world  affords,  to  fee  an  ungodly  perfon  dying  ;  his 
foul  and  hopes  departing  together!  'With  what  a  fad 
change  he  appears  in  another  world  !  Then  if  a  man 
could  but  fpeak  with  that  hoptlefs  foul,  and  ail<  it, 
are  you  now  as  confident  of  falvation  as  you  were  wont 
to  be  ?  Do  you  now  hope  to  be  faved  as  foon  as  the 
<moft  godly  ?  O  what  a  fad  anfvver  would  he  return  ! 

O  that  careicfs  finners  would  be  awakened  to  think 
of  this  in  time  !  If  thou  be  one  of  them,  who  art 
leading  thefe  lines,  I  do  here,  as  a  friend,  advifc  thee, 

that 


The  Saifits  Ever  ladling  Rtft.     lo^ 

tliat  as  thou  wouldH  not  have  all  thy  hopes  deceive 
thee,  when  thou  had  mod  need,  thou  prcfently  try 
them,  whether  tliey  will  prove  current  at  the  touch- 
ftone  of  the  fcripture  ;  and  If  thou  Hnd  them  unfound, 
let  them  go,  whatfoever  forrov/  they  cofl  thee.  Reft 
not  till  thou  canft  give  a  reafon  of  all  thy  hopes  ;  till 
thou  canfl:  prove,  that  they  are  the  hopes  which  grace, 
and  not  nature,  hath  wrought  ;  that  they  are  ground- 
ed upon  fcripturc-promifes  ;  that  they  purify  thy 
heart ;  that  they  quicken,  and  not  cool  thy  endea- 
vours in  godlinefs  ;  that  the  more  thou  hopeft,  the  lefs 
thou  finnett,  and  the  more  painful  thou  art  in  follow- 
ing on  the  work,  and  not  grown  more  loofe  and  care- 
lefs  by  the  increafnig  of  thy  hopes  ;  that  thou  art  wil- 
ling to  have  them  tried,  and  fearful  of  being  deceived  ; 
that  they  ilir  t'p  thy  defires  of  enjoyiiig  v/hat  thou 
hopell  for,  and  the  deferring  thereof  is  the  trouble  o£ 
thy  heart. 

There  is  a  hope  which  is  a  Hngular  grace  and  duty  ; 
and  there  is  a  hope  which  is  a  notorious,  dangerous 
fin  :  fo  conftquently  there  is  a  defpair  which  is  a  griev- 
ous fin  ;  and  there  is  a  defpah'  v.'hich  is  abfolutely  ne- 
cefTary  to  thy  falvation. 

I  would  not  have  thee  defpair  cf  the  fufficlency  of 
the  blood  of  Chrift  to  fave  thee,  if  thou  believe,  and 
heartily  obey  him  :  nor  of  the  willingnefs  of  God  to 
pardon  and  fave  thee,  if  thou  be  fetch  an  one  :  nor  yet 
abfolutely  of  thy  own  falvation,  becaufe  while  there  is 
life  and  time,  there  is  hope  of  thy  converfion,  and  fo 
of  thy  falvation  ;  nor  would  I  draw  thee  to  defpair  of 
finding  Chrill,  if  thou  do  but  heartily  fcck  him  :  but 
this  is  the  defpair  that  1  would  perfuade  thee  to,  a« 
thou  loveft  thy  foul ;  that  thou  defpair  of  ever  being 
faved,  except  thou  be  born  again  ;  or  of  feeing  God, 
without  holinefs  ;  or  efcaping  perifhing,  except  thou 
fuddenly  repent  j  or  of  ever  having  part  in  Chrilt,  ex- 
K  ccp 


no      The  Saints  Everlafl'ing  Hejl. 

cept  thou  love  him  above  fatlier,  mother,  or  thy  owil 
JIfe  ;  or  of  ever  truly  loving  God,  or  being  his  ier- 
vant,  while  thou  loveft  the  world,  and  ferveft  it. 

Thefe  things  T  would  have  thee  defpair  of,  and 
whatever  elfe  God  hath  told  thee  (hail  never  come  to 
pafs.  And  when  thou  hail  fadly  fearched  into  thy  own 
heart,  and  findeft  thyfelf  in  any  of  thefe  cafes,  I  v.-ould 
have  thee  defpair  of  ever  bring  faved  in  that  ftate  thou 
art  in.  This  kind  of  defpair  is  one  of  the  firil  fttps 
lo  heaven. 

Confider,  if  a  man  be  quite  out  of  his  way,  what 
inuft  be  the  firft  means  tobiing  him  in  a^zaln  ?  ^hy, 
a  defpair  of  ever  coming  to  his  journey's  end  in  the 
way  that  he  is  in.  If  !:is  home  be  ealUvaid,  and  he 
be  going  weftward,  as  long  as  he  hopes  he  is  \m  ihe 
light,  he  will  go  on  :  ;  nd  as  long  as  he  goes  on  hoping, 
he  goes  further  amifs.  Therefore  vi'hen  ht  meets  with 
foniebody  that  afTures  him  that  he  ib  clean  out  of  his 
way,  and  brings  him  to  defpair  of  conrjing  home  ex- 
cept he  turn  back  again  ;  then  he  will  return,  and  then 
lie  may  hope. 

Why,  fuincr,  juft  fo  It  Is  with  thy  foul  ;  thou  art 
out  of  the  way  to  heaven,  and  in  that  way  thou  haft 
2))oceedcd  many  a  year  ;  yc*t  tiiou  goeft  on  quietly, 
and  hoped  to  be  faved,  becaufe  thou  art  not  fo  bad  as 
jnrjiy  others.  Why,  I  tell  tiitc,  except  thou  throw 
away  thefe  hopes,  and  fee  that  thou  hall  ail  this  while 
"been  quite  out  of  the  v/ay  to  heaven  :  I  fay,  till  thou 
be  brought  to  this,  thov.  wilt  never  return  and  be  fav- 
ed. Who  will  turn  out  <)'i  his  way  while  he  hope* 
lie  is  right?  Remember  what  I  fay;  till  thou  feel 
Ood  convincing  thee,  that  t!he  way  which  thou  haft 
lived  in  will  not  ferve  thy  turn,  and  fo  break  down 
thy  former  hopes,  there  is  yet  no  faving  work 
v.Broui|jht  upon  thee,  how  well  foever  thou  may  ft  hope 
^\  of 


The  Saints  Everhijiing  Rcjl,     1 1 1 

oFlhyfelf.  Yea,  tkus  much  more,  if  any  thing  keep 
tbv  foul  out  of  heaven,  there  i?  nothing  in  the  world 
liktlier  to  do  it,  than  thy  falfe  hopes  of  being  faved, 
while  thou  art  out  of  the  way  to  falvation. 

3.  Another  additional  lofs,  agj^ravating  their  \oh 
of  heaven,  is  this,  th.ey  iliall  loofe  all  their  carnal  mirtii; 
they  will  fay  to  themfelves  (as  Sikmon  doth)  of  tht'ir 
l.iu^hter,  thou  art  mad;  and  of  tha'tr  mirth,  ivhat  d'ldjl 
thou  ^  Ecclcf.  ii.  2.  Their  pleafant  conceits  are  then 
ended,  and  their  merry  tales  are  all  told,  their  mirth 
nvas  hut  as  the  criicllin^  0'  thorn:  u  ider  a  lot^  Ecclef, 
vii.  6.  It  made  a  blaze  for  a  while,  but  it  was  pre- 
fently  gone,  and  will  return  no  more.  They  fcorn- 
ed  to  entertain  any  faddening  tlioughts  :  the  talk  of 
death  and  judgment  was  irkfome  to  them,  becaufe  it 
damped  their  mirth  :  they  could  not  endure  to  think 
of  their  Hn  or  danger,  becaufe  thefe  thoughts  did  fad 
their  fpitit :  they  knew  not  what  it  was  to  weep  for 
Hn,  or  to  humble  themfelves  under  the  mighty  hand 
of  God  ;  they  could  laugh  a\ray  forrow,  and  fing 
away  cares,  and  drive  away  thefe  melancholy  thoughts: 
they  thouglit  if  they  fliould  meditate,  and  pray,  and. 
mourn,  as  the  godly  do,  their  lives  would  be  a  con- 
tinual mifery. 

Alas,  poor  fouls  1  What  a  mifery  then  will  that 
life  be,  where  you  Ihall  have  nothing  but  forrow  ; 
intenfe,  heart-piercing,  multiplied  forrow  ?  When 
you  fhall  have  neither  the  joys  of  the  faints,  nor  your 
own  former  joys  ?  Do  you  think  there  is  one  m.erry 
heart  in  hell  ?  Or  one  joyful  countenance,  or  jelling 
tongue  ?  You  cry  now,  A  little  mirth  is  njuorth  a  great 
deal  of  J  arrow  :  but  furely  a  little  godly  forrow,  which 
would  have  ended  in  eternal  joy,  had  been  more 
worth  than  a  great  deat  of  your  fooHQi  mirth,  which 
will  end  In  forrov/. 

4  Another 


X  :  2     The  Sftinis  Everlajling  Rejt. 

4.  Another  pcMiticuial  lofs  will  be  this  :  they  /hall 
lofe  all  thej'r  fenfual  delights  :  that  which  they  cftccm- 
rd  their  chief  good,  their  bcavtn,  their  faife  god  mud 
they  lofc,  as  well  as  God  him  ft  If. 

O  what  a  fall  will  the  proud  ambitious  man  have 
from  the  top  of  his  honours  !  As  his  duft  and  bones 
will  not  be  known  from  the  duft  and  bones  of  the 
poored  beggars  :  fo  neither  will  his  foul  be  honoured 
or  favoured  any  more  than  theirs.  What  a  number 
f^f  the  great,  Loble,  and  learned,  are  now  fliut  out 
of  the  prefcnce  of  Chrlft  !  They  are  fhut  out  of  their 
well  contrived  houTes,  and  fumptuous  buildings  ;  their 
comely  chambers,  with  coftly  hangings  ;  their  foft 
beds,  and  cafy  couches.  They  fhall  not  find  their 
gallant  walks,  their  curious,  gardens,  with  variety  of 
beauteous  fruits  and  flowers  ;  their  rich  pallures,  and 
pleafant  meadows,  and  plenteous  harveit,  and  flocks 
and  herds.  Their  tables  will  not  be  fo  fpread  and 
i"Birnin:ied,  nor  they  fo  pundually  attended  and  ob- 
ferved.  They  have  not  their  variety  of  dainty  fare, 
or  feveral  courfes,  to  pleafe  their  appetites  to  the 
fiill.  The  rich  man  there  fareth  not  delicioufly  every 
day,  neither  fhall  he  wear  there  his  purple  and  fine 
linen. 

O  that  finncrs  would  remember  this  in  the  midfl 
of  their  jollity,  and  fay  to  one  another,  we  muft 
fhortly  reckon  for  this.  Will  the  remembrance  of  It 
then,  be  comfortable  or  terrible  I  will  thefe  delights 
accompany  us  to  another  world  ?  How  ihall  we  look 
each  other  In  the  face,  If  we  meet  In  hell  ?  Will  not 
the  memorial  of  them  be  then  our  torment  .'  Come, 
as  we  have  finned  together,  let  us  piay  together  be- 
fore we  flir,  that  God  would  pardon  us,  and  let  us 
enter  into  a  promife  with,  one  another  that  we  will  do 
thus  no  more,  but  will  meet  togethei  in  the  worrtiip 
of  God,  and  help   one   another   towards  heaven,    as 

oft 


The  Saints  Everlajling  Reji.    1 1 3 

oft    as  we    have  met    for  our  finful    merriments,  in 

helping  to  deceive    and    dedroy  each  other. This 

would  be  the  way  to  prevent  this  forrow,  and  a  courfe 
that  would  comfort  you,  when  you  look  back  upon 
it  hereafter. 

C  HA  P.    IV. 

The  Greatnefs  of  the  Tonnenis  of  the  Damned 
dif cove  red* 

HAVING  thus  fhewed  you  how  great  their  \o(?, 
is,  who  are  (hut  out  of  reft,  and  how  it  will  be 
aggravated  by  thole  additional  lofles  which  will  ac- 
company it.  1  fliould  next  here  Ihew  you  the  great- 
nefs of  thofe  pofitive  futTerings,  which  will  acco-npany 
this  lofs.  But  I  will  not  meddle  with  the  quality  of 
thofe  fufferiugs,  but  only  (hew  their  greatnefs  in  fome 
few  difcoveries,  lefi  the  carelefs  iinner,  while  he  hears 
of  no  other  punifliment  but  that  of  lofs,  (liould  think 
he  can  bear  that  well  enough.  That  there  are,  befides 
the  lofs  of  happinefs,  aclual.  fenfible  torments  for  the 
damned,  is  a  matter  beyond  all  doubt,  and  that  they 
will  be  exceeding  great,  may  appear  by  thefe  argu- 
ments following. 

I.  From  the  principal  author  of  them,  which  is 
God  himfelf :  as  it  was  no  lefs  than  God  whom  the 
fmners  had  offended,  ^o  it  is  no  lefs  than  God  that  will 
puni(h  them  for  their  offences.  He  hath  prepared 
thofe  torments  for  his  enemies.  His  continued  anger 
will  Hill  be  devouring  theni.  His  breath  of  indigna- 
tion will  kindle  the  flalnes.  His  wrath  will  be  an 
intolerable  burden  to  their  fouls.  If  it  were  but  a 
creature  that  they  had  to  do  with,  they  might  better 
K.-2  *  bear 


1 14  The  Saints  Everhjling  Rejl. 

Lear  it.  Kut  wo  to  him  tliat  falls  under  tlie  drolces 
of  the  Almiglity  !  'Ihey  fhall  feel  to  their  forrow, 
7 hat  it  is  a  ftarfttl  thln^  to  fail  into  the  hands  of  the 
living  God.  It  were  nothing  in  comparifon  to  this, 
if  all  the  world  were  againd  them,  or  if  the  ftrcngth. 
of  all  the  creatures  were  united  in  one  to  inflict  their 
penalty.  What  a  confuraing  fire  is  his  wrath  )  If  it 
be  kindled  here,  and  that  but  a  iitlie,  how  do  we  wither 
before  it,  as  the  grafs  that  is  cat  d(/tvTJ  before  the  fun  ! 
How  foon  doth  our  ilrength  decay,  and  turn  to  weak- 
iiefij,  and  our  beaii'.y  to  deformity  \  The  flames  di) 
not  fo  cafily  run  through  the  dry  ftubble,  as  the  wrath 
of  God  will  fc-cd  upon  tliefe  wretches.  Oh,  they 
that  could  not  bear  a  prifon,  or  a  gibbet,  for  Chrift, 
fcarce  a  few  fccrus,  how  will  they  now  bear  the  de- 
vouring lire  ! 

2.  The  place  or  flate  of  torment  is  pnrpofely  or- 
dained for  the  glorifying  God's  juRice.  As  all  the 
works  of  God  are  great  and  wondtifuK  fo  thiofe  above 
all,  which  arc  fpecially  intended  for  the  eminent  ad- 
vancing of  forae  of  is  attributes.  When  he  will  glo- 
rify his  power,  he  makes  the  worlds.  The  comely- 
order  of  all,  and  fmgular  creatures,  declare  his  wif- 
riom.  His  providence  is  fliewn,  in  fuRaining  all 
things  and  maintaining  oidtr,  and  attending  lils  ex- 
cellent ends,  amongft  tlie  confufed,  perverfe,  tumultu- 
ous agitations  of  a  world  of  wicked,  foolifli,  felf-de- 
ftroying  mifcreants.  When  a  fpark  of  his  wrath  doth 
kindle  upon  the  earth,  the  whole  world,  fave  only 
eight  pcrfons,  are  drowned,  SoJonif  Gomorrah,  /Idmahy 
and  Zeboim,  are  burnt  with  hre  from  heaven  to  afhes. 
The  fea  fhuts  her  mouth  upon  fome-  The  earth  doth 
open  and  fwallow  others.  The  pefiilcnce  deftroyeth 
them  by  thoufands.  The  prcfent  dcploiable  (late  of 
the  Jews  may  fully  teftify  this  to  the  world.  And 
yet  the  glorifying  of  the  two  great  attributes,  of  mer- 
ty  and  jufticc,  h  intended  mvii  eminently  for  the  life 

to 


The:  Saints  Everla/!ing  Re  (I,    \i^ 

to  come.  As  therefore  when  God  will  purpoftly  glo* 
rify  his  mercy,  he  will  do  it  in  a  way  that  is  now  be- 
yond the  comprchenfion  of  the  faints  that  mn(l  enjoy 
ft;  fo  that  the  blood  of  his  Son,  and  the  enjoyment 
of  liimfclf  immediately  in  glory,  fh^ll  not  be  thought 
too  high  an  honour  for  them  :  fo  alfo,  when  the  time 
comes  that  lie  will  purpoftly  manifcll  his  juftice,  it 
fliall  appear  to  be  indeed  the  juftice  of  God.  The 
everlalting  flraiies  of  hell  will  not  be  thought  too  hot 
for  the  rebellious  ;  and  when  they  have  there  burned 
through  millions  of  ages,  he  will  not  repent  him  of 
the  evil  which  is  befdllen  them.  Oh,  wo  to  the  foul 
tliat  is  thus  fet  up  for  a  butt,  for  the  wrath  of  the  Al- 
rr.ighty  to  Ihoot  at  !  and  for  a  bufh  that  muft  burn  in 
the  flames  of  his  jealoufy,  and  never  be  confumed  ! 

3.  Confider  who  fliall  be  God's  executioners  of 
their  torment  ;  and  that  is,  firft,  Satan.  Secondly, 
themfelves.  Firlt,  he  that  was  here  fo  fucceuful  in 
drawing  them  from  Chrift,  will  then  be  the  iiillrument 
of  their  punlfnment,  for  yielding  to  his  temptations. 
It  was  a  pityiul  fight  to  fee  the  man  po.Teffed,  that  was 
bound  with  chains,  and  lived  among  tombs:  and  that 
olher  that  would  be  caft  into  the  fire  and  Into  the  wa* 
l?r  ;  but  alas  1  that  was  nothing  to  the  torment  that 
Satan  puts  them  to  in  hell  ;  that  is  tiie  reward  he  wiJl 
give  them  for  all  their  fervice  ;  for  their  rejedling  the 
comimands  of  God,  and  forfaking  Clirift,  and  negle<5l- 
ing  their  fouls  at  his  perfuafjon.  Ah,  if  they  had 
ferved  Chrill  as  faithfully  as  they  did  Satan,  he  would 
have  given  them  a  better  reward.  2.  And  It  is  mod 
juli  alfo,  that  they  fl^.uuid  tliere  be  their  own  torment- 
erSj  that  they  may  fee  that  their  whole  deitrudion  is 
of  themfelves  ;  and  they  who,  were  wilfully  the  meri- 
torijus  caufe,  (hould  alfu  be  the  efficient  In  their  own 
iufferlngs ;  and  then  who  can  they  complain  of  but 
themfelves  ? 

4,  Cofllide^^ 


0^:6    The  Saints  Everlajling  Rejf^ 

4.  Coniider  alfo  that  tliclr  torment  will  be  univer. 
fal,  not  upon  one  part  alone,  while  the  relt  arc  free  ; 
but  as  all  have  joined  in  the  fin.  io  inuft  all  partake  of 
the  torment.  j'he  foul,  as  it  was  the  chief  in  finning, 
fhall  be  the  chief  in  fuffering  ;  and  as  it  is  of  a. mare 
fpiritual  and  excellent  natu  '  than  bodies  are,  fo  will 
its  torments  far  txceed  bodiI\  fuffcrings.  And  as  the 
joys  of  the  foul  far  furpafn  all  iVifaal  pleafures,  fo  the. 
pains  of  the  foul  furpafs  corporal  pains. 

And  it  is  not  only  a  fnul,  but  a  finful  foul  that  mufi: 
fuffer  :  the  guilt  which  flill  remains  upon  it,  will  make 
it  fit  for  the  wrath  of  God  to  work  upon  :  as  fire  will 
not  burn,  except  the  fuel  be  coaibuftible  ;  but  if  the 
vood  be  dry,  how  nercely  will  it  burn  then  !  The  guilt: 
of  their  fins  will  be  as  tinder  to  gunpowder  to  the  dam- 
ned foul,  to  make  the  flames  of  hell  take  hold  upon 
them  with  fuiy.  ,^1^ 

And  a.^the  foul,  fo  alfo  the  body  muH:  bear  its  part.-. 
That  body  that  muft  needs  be"  pleafed,  whatfoevi-r  be- 
cc.me  of  its  eternal  fafcty*  fhiiU  now  be  paid  for  its 
unlawful  plrafures.  That  body  which  was  fo  care- 
fully looked  t'\    fo  tendi.-fly  chciifhed That  body 

which  could  not  endure  heat  or  cold,  or  an  ill  fmell, 
or  a  loathfome  fi;^ht :  Oli  what  mull  it  no^v  endure  ! 
how  are  its  haughty  looks  now  taken  down  !  how  lit- 
tle will  thof^  fiamcs  regard  its  comelinefs  and  beauty  ! 
but  as  death  did  not  regard  it,  nor  the  worms  regard 
it,  but  as  freely  fed  upon  the  face  of  the  proud  and 
lullful  dames,  and  the  heart  of  the  moll  ambitious 
lords  and  princes,  as  If  they  had  been  but  beggars  ;  fo 
will  their  tormeuters  then  as  little  pity  their  tender- 
xiefs,  or  reverence  their  lordlinefs.  Thofe  eyes  which 
w.ere  wont  to  be  delighted  with  curious  fights,  mufi; 
theufee  nothing, but  what  fiiall  amaze  ano  terrify  them  ; 
an  angry  God  above  them,  and  thofc  faints  wIujOI 
^ey  fcorned,  enjoying   the  glory  which    they    have 

'  loa.i: 


The  Saints  Everlajllng  Rejl,     1 1 7 

loft  ;  and  about  them  will  be  only  devils  and  dnmned 
fouls  :  ah  !  then  how  fadiv  will  they  look  back  and 
fay,  are  all  our  feafts,  our  games  and  revels  come  to 
this  !  Then  thofe  ears  which  were  wont  to  be  delight- 
ed with  mufic,  fhall  hear  the  ilirieks  and  cries  of  their 
damned  companions  ;  children  crying  out  againft  their 
parents,  that  gave  them  encouragement  and  example 
in  evil ;  hufbands  crying  out  upon  their  wives,  and 
wives  upon  their  hufhands  ;  mailers  and  fervants  curf- 
ing  each  other  ;  minifters  and  people  ;  maglftrates  and 
("ubjefts,  charging  their  mifery  upon  one  another, 
for  difcouraging  in  duty,  conniving  at  fin,  and  being 
filcnt  or  formil  when  they  fhould  have  plainly  told 
one  another  of  their  mifery,  and  fore-warned  them  of 
their  danger.  Thus  will  foul  and  body  be  compani- 
ons in  calamity. 

5.  And  the  greater  by  far  will  their  torments  be, 
becaufe  they  fnall  have  no  comfort  left  to  mitigate 
them.  In  tliis  life  when  a  miniHer  told  them  of  hell, 
or  confcience  began  to  trouble  their  peace,  they  had 
comforts  enough  at  hand  to  telieve  them  :  their  carnal 
friends  were  all  ready  to  comfort  them,  but  now  they 
have  not  a  word  of  comfort  either  for  him  or  them- 
felves.  Formerly  they  had  their  bufincfs,  their  com- 
pany, their  mirth,  to  drive  away  their  fears;  they 
could  drink  away  their  furrows,  or  play  them  away, 
or  fieep  them  away,  or  at  leaft,  time  did  wear  them 
away  ;  but  now  all  thefe  remedies  are  vaniiTied.  They 
had  a  hard,  a  prefumptuous  unbelieving  heart,  which 
was  a  wall  to  defend  them  againll  troubles  of  mind  ; 
but  now  their  experience  hath  brinillied  thefe,  and  left 
them  naked  to  the  fury  of  thofe  flames.  Yea,  for- 
merly ^aian  himfelf  was  their  comforter,  and  would 
unfay  nil  that  the  miniller  faid  againft  them,  as  he  did 
to  our  firft  motiier.  Hath  GoC^fatd,  Tefiall  not  eat  ? 
T<i  Jball  not  furdy  die.  So  doth  he  now  :  doth  God 
tell  you  that  you  fhctll  lie  m  hell  ?  it  is  no  fitch  mat- 
ter s 


3  1 8    The  Saints  Everlajling  Reji, 

ter  ;  God  Is  more  merciful :  he  doth  but  tell  you  fo> 
to  fright  you  from  linning  :  or  if  there  be  a  hell,  wliat 
need  you  fear  it  ?  are  not  you  chriilians  ?  and  fhall  yoit 
not  be  favt'd  by  Chrift  ?  was  not  his  blood  (hed  for 
you?  Minillers  may  tell  you  what  they  pleafe,  they 
would  make  men-  believe  that  they  (hidl  all  be  damned 
except  they  will  lit  themfelves  to  their  humour. — Thus 
as  the  Spirit  of  Chrlll  is  the  comforter  of  the  faints, 
fo  Salan  is  the  comforter  of  the  wicked  ;  for  he  knows. 
ii  he  fhould  now  difquiet  them,  they  would  no  long- 
er fcrve  him  ;  or  if  fears  or  doubts  fhould  trouble 
them,  they  would  bethink  themfelves  of  their  danger. 
Never  vvas  a  thief  more  carefiJ  left  he  fhould  awake 
the  people,  when  he  is  robbing  the  houfe,  than  Satan 
is,  not  to  awaken  a  fmner.  But  when  the  finner  is 
dead,  and  he  l»sth  his  prey,  then  he  hath  done  flatter- 
ing and  comforting  them.  While  the  fight  of  fm  and 
mifery  might  have  helped  to  fave  them,  he  took  all 
the  pains  he  could  to  hide  it  from  their  eyes  ;  but  when 
it  is  too  late,  and  there  Is  no  hope  left,  he  will  make 
them  fee  and  feel  to  the  utmoft.  Oh,  which  way  will 
the  foilorn  finner  ihen  look  for  comfort  !  They  that 
drew  him  into  tlie  fnare,  and  promlLd  him  fafety,  now 
forfake  him,  and  are  fiirfakei;  ih.emfelves.  His  anci- 
ent coa.forts  are  takrn  from  iciin,  and  the  righteous, 
God,  whofe  fore-w<irnIng  he  nmde  light  of,  will  now.- 
jnake  good  his  wore  agalnft  him  to  the  lead  tittle. 

6.   Eat  the  great   aggravation  of   this  mifery,  will' 
be    its  eternity.     Tliat  whea   a  thoufand   millions  of' 
ages  are  pift,   their  torments  are  as   frefn  to  begin  as 
at  the  fi ill  day.      If  there  were  any  hope  of  an  end,  it 
would  eafc  tlum  to   furefvv;  it ;  but  when   it  muft  be 
for   cvei  fo,  that   thought  is  intolerable:   much;  more, 
will  the  mifery  itfelf  be.     They  never  heartily  repent-, 
ed   of    their  fin,  and    God    wdl  never  repent  him  of 
their  fuffering.     They  broke  the  laws  of  thejeternal 
QjQ^i  aad  therefore  fliall  fuficr  eternal  punifhment* 


The  Saints  Everla/iing  Rejl,     1 1  ^ 

They  knew  it  was  an  everlafting  kingdom  which  they 
refufed  ;  and  therefore  what  wonder  if  they  be  ever- 
laftingly  fliut  out  of  it  ?  It  was  their  immortal  fouU 
that  were  guilty  of  the  trefpafs,  and  therefore  muft 
immortally  fulTtr  the  pains.  What  happy  men  would 
they  think  thcmfclves,  it  they  might  have  lain  ftill  in 
their  graves,  or  continued  duft,  or  fuffered  no  worfe 
than  the  gnawing  of  thofe  worms  !  Oh  that  they  might 
but  there  lie  down  again  !  What  a  mercy  now  would 
it  be  t©  die  !  And  how  will  they  call  and  cry  cut  for 
it  ?  O  death  !  whfther  art  thou  gone  ?  Now  come  and 
cut  off  this  doleful  life.  O  that  thefe  pains  would 
break  my  heart,  and  end  my  being  !  O  that  I  might 
once  die  at  laft  !  O  that  I  had  never  had  a  being  !  — 
Thefe  groans  will  the  thoughts  of  eternity  wring  from 
their  hearts.  They  were  wont  to  think  the  fermon 
long,  and  prayer  long.;  how  long  then  will  they  think 
thefe  endlefs  torments  ?  What  difference  is  there  be- 
twixt the  length  of  their  pleafures  and  of  their  pains  ? 
The  one  continueth  but  a  moment,  the  other  endureth 
through  all  eternity.  Oh  that  linners  would  lay  this 
thought  to  heart  !  Remember  how  time  is  almoft  gone. 
Thou  art  ftanding  all  this  while  at  the  door  of  eterni- 
ty ;  and  death  is  v.'aiting  to  open  the  door,  and  put 
thee  in.  Go  deep  out  but  a  few  more  nights,  and  llir 
up  and  down  on  earth  a  few  more  days,  and  then  thy 
nights  and  days  fhall  end  ;  thy  thoughts,  and  cares, 
and  pleafures,  and  all  fhall  be  devoured  by  eternity  ; 
thou  mud  enter  upon  the  ftate  which  (hall  never  be 
changed.  As  the  joys  of  heaven  are  beyond  our  con- 
ceiving, fo  alfo  arc  the  pains  of  hsU.  Everlafting  tor- 
ment is  inconceivable  torment. 

But  methinks  I  perceive  the  obftinate  finner  defpc- 
ratcly  refolving.  If  I  muft  be  damned,  there  is  no  re- 
medy ;  rather  than  I  will  live  fo  precifely,  I  will  put 
it  to  the  venture  ;  I  fliall  efcape  as  well  as  the  reft  of 
my   neighbours,  and  we  will  even   bear  it  as  well  as 

%F0 


120    The  Saints  Everlajling  Rcji. 

we  can. — Alas,  poor  creature  !  would  thou  dldft  but 
know  what  it  is  that  thou  dofl  fo  boldly  venture  on  : 
1  dare  fay  thou  wouldft  fleep  this  night  but  very  un- 
quletly.  Wilt  thou  leave  thyfelf  no  room  for  hope  ? 
Art  tliou  fuch  an  implacable  enemy  to  Chrift  and  thy 
own  foul  ?  and  doft  thou  think  indeed,  that  thou  canlt 
bear  the  wrath  of  God,  and  go  away  fo  eafily  with 
thcfc  eternal  torments  ?  Yet  let  me  beg  this  of  thee, 
that  before  thou  doft  fo  flatly  refolve,  thou  wouldft 
knd  tl.ine  attention  to  thefe  few  queftions. 

Firji,  Who  art  thou  that  thou  fliouldft  bear  the 
vrath  of  God  ?  Art  thou  a  God  ;  or  art  thou  a  man  I 
What  is  thy  ftrength  to  undergo  fo  much  ?  Is  it  not 
as  the  flrength  of  wax  or  Hubble  to  refift  the  fire  ?  or 
as  chaff  to  tlie  wind  ;  or  as  dufl  before  the  whirlwind  ? 
Was  he  not  as  ftout  a  man  as  thyfelf,  who  cried  to 
God,  Wilt  thou  break  a  leaf  driven  to  and  fro  ?  And 
•U'/V/  ihou  purfue  the  dryjlubble  ?  If  thy  ftrength  were 
as  iron,  and  thy  bones  as  brafs,  thou  couldft  not  bear. 
If  thy  foundation  were  as  the  earth,  and  thy  power  as 
the  heavens,  yet  fliouldft  thou  perifh  at  the  breath  of 
his  indignation.  How  much  more  when  thou  art  but 
a  little,  creeping,  breathing  clay,  kept  a  few  days 
from  ftinking,  and  from  being  eaten  with  worms,  by 
the  mere  fupport  and  favour  of  him  whom  thou  thus 
refifteft? 

Secondly,  If  thou  be  fo  firong,  and  thy  heart  fo 
(lout,  Vv'hy  do  thofe  fmall  fufferings  fo  difmay  thee  I 
U  thou  have  but  a  fit  of  the  gout  or  ftone,  what 
groans  doft  thou  utter  ?  The  houfe  is  filled  with  thy 
complaints.  If  thou  fliouldft  but  lofe  a  leg  or  an  arm, 
thou  wouldft  make  a  great  matter  of  it.  If  thou  lofc 
thine  eftate,  and  fall  into  poverty  and  difgrace  ;  how 
heavily  wouldft  thou  bear  any  one  of  thefe?  And  yet 
all  thefc  laid  together,  will  be  one  day  accounted  a 
happy  ftate,  in  comparifon  of  that  which  is  fuffered 

in 


TIjc  Saints  Evei'hijling  Rejl,     1 2 1 

in  hell.  Let  me  fee  thee  make  as  light  of  convulfiv** 
gouty,  rheumatic  pains,  when  they  feize  upon  thee, 
and  then  the  (Irength  of  thy  fpirit  will  appear.  Alas, 
how  many  fuch  boalkrs  as  thyfc;lf  have  I  fcen  made 
to  lloop  and  eat  their  words  !  And  when  God  hath  but 
let  out  a  little  of  his  wrath,  that  Pharaoh^  who  before 
aiked,   Who  u  the  Lord?  hath  cried,  I h.iv: finned. 

Thirdly,  If  all  this  be  nothing,  go  try  thy  (Irength 
by  fome  corporal  torment  ;  as  Biln-y  before  he  went 
to  the  flake,  would  firft  try  his  finger  in  the  candle  ; 
fo  do  thou  :  hold  thy  finger  awhile  in  the  fire,  and 
feel  ther£  whether  thou  canft  endure  the  fire  of  hell. 
Aujl'm  mentioned  a  chnlle  chriflicin  woman,  who  be- 
ing tempted  to  uncleanncfs  by  a  lewd  niffian,  (he  dc- 
Iired  him  for  her  fake  to  hold  ^lis  finger  one  hour  in 
the  fire  ;  he  anfwered,  it  is  an  unreafonable  requcft  : 
how  much  more  unreafonable  i-  it  '^faid  flie)  that  I 
fhould  burn  in  hell  for  the  fati.^fying  your  liifl  ?  So 
fay  I  to  thee  ;  if  it  be  an  intolerable  thing  to  fuffer 
the  heat  of  the  fire  for  a  year,  or  a  day,  or  an  hour, 
what  will  it  be  to  fuffer  ten  tho  ifand  times  more  for 
ever?  What  if  thou  wert  to  fuff.r  Laivrence^z  death, 
to  be  roafted  upon  a  grid-iron  ;  or  to  be  fcraped  or 
pricked  to  death,  as  other  martyrs  were  ?  If  thou 
couldft  not  endure  fuch  things  as  thcfe,  how  wilt  then 
■endure  the  eternal  flames  ? 

Fourthly,  If  thou  be  fo  fearlefs  of  that  eternal  mi- 
fery,  why  is  the  lead  forctafte  of  itfo  terrible  ?  Didd 
thou  never  feel  fuch  a  thing  as  a  tormenting  confci- 
cnce  ?  if  thou  haft  not,  thou  fiialt  do.  Didft  thou 
never  fee  and  fpeak  with  a  man  that  lived  in  defpera- 
tion,  or  in  fome  degree  of  thefe  wounds  of  fpirit  that 
was  near  defpair  ?  How  uncomfortable  was  their  con- 
ference !  How  buidenfome  their  lives  !  Nothing  doth 
them  good  which  they  pofilfs  ;  the  fight  of  friends, 
or  houfe,  or  goods,  which  refrefheth  others,  i«  a  trou- 
L  ble 


12  2     The  Saints  Everlajiing  Rejl. 

ble  to  them  :  they  feel  no  fweetnefs  in  meat  or  drink,; 
they  are  weary  of  life,  «nd  fearful  of  death.  What  is 
the  matter  with  thefe  men  ?  If  the  mifery  of  the  damn- 
ed itfelf  can  be  endured,  why  cannot  they  more  eafily 
€ndure  thefe  little  fparks  ? 

Fifihly,  Tell  me  faithfully,  what  if  thou  fliouldft 
but  fee  the  devil  appear  to  thee  in  fome  terrible  fnape, 
•would  it  not  daunt  thee  ?  What  if  thou  fhouldft  meet 
-))im  in  thy  way  home,  or  he  (liould  fliew  himfclf  to 
thee  at  night  in  thy  bedchamber,  would  not  thy  heai't 
fail  thee,  and  thy  hair  ftand  on  end  ?  I  could  name  the.€ 
thofe  that  have  been  as  confident  as  thyfelf,  who,  by 
fuch  a  fight,  have  been  fo  appalled,  that  they  were  in 
danger  of  being  driven  out  of  their  wits.  Or  what  if 
fome  damned  foul,  of  thy  former  acquaintance,  fhould 
appear  to  thte,  would  not  this  amaze  tbec  ?  Alas  ! 
what  is  this  to  the  torments  of  hell  ?  Canfl  thou  not 
endure  a  fliadow  to  appear  before  thee  ?  O  how  wilt 
thou  endure  to  live  with  them  for  ever,  where  thou 
Ihalt  have  no  other  company  but  devils  and  the  damn- 
■cd  :  and  (halt  not  only  fee  them,  but  be  tormented 
Avith  them,  and  by  thern  ! 

Lajlly^  Let  me  aflc  thee,  if  the  wrath  of  God  be 
tto  be  made  fo  light  of,  why  did  the  Son  of  God 
himfelf  make  fo  great  a  matter  of  it  ?  When  he  had 
taken  upon  him  the  payment  of  our  debt,  and  bore 
that  punifhment  we  had  deferved,  it  makes  him  fweat 
water  and  blood  ;  it  makes  the  Lord  of  life  to  cry. 
My  foul  is  hea'uy^  even  to  the  death.  It  makes  him  cry- 
out  upon  thexirofs.  My  God,  my  God,  ivhy  hajl  thou 
forf'iken  me  ?  Surely  if  any  one  could  have  borne 
thefe  fufferings,  it  would  have  been  Jefus  Chrift* 
JHe  had  another  meafuie  of  ftrength  to  bear  it  than 
ihou  liafl. 

Wo 


J7je  Saints  Everlajling  Rejl,     1 2  3- 

Wo  to  poor  finners  for  their  mad  fecnrlty  !  Do  they 
think  to  find  that  tolerable  to  them  which  was  fo  hea. 
vy  to  Chrill  ?  Nay,  the  Son-  of  God  is  cad  into  a  bit- 
ter agony,  and  bloody  fweat,  under  the  curfe  of  the 
law  only  ;  and  yet  the  feeble,  fooliHi  creature  makes 
nothing  to  bear  alb  the  curfe  of  the  gofpcl  ;  the  good 
Lord  bring  thefe  men  to  their  right  minds  by  reperit- 
aiice,  left  they  bay  their  wit  at  too  dtar  a  rate. 

i\nd  thus  I  have  fliewn  yon  fomewhat  ofthcirmi- 
fery,  who  mifs  of  this  reft  prepared  for  the  faints. 
And  now,  reg^der,  I  demand  thy  refokition,  what  ufc 
thou  wilt  make  of  all  this  ?  Shall  it  all  be  loft  to  thee  ? 
Or  wilt  thou  confider  it  in  good  earneft  ?  Thou  ha'b 
caft  by  many  a  warning  of  God,  wilt  thou  do  fo  by 
this  alf^  ?  Take  heed  what  thou  doft,  and  how  tho.i 
refolveft.  God  will  not  always  ftand  warning  and 
threatening.  The  hand  of  revenge  is  lifted  up  ;  the 
blow  is  coming,  and  wo  to  him  on  whom  it  lighteth. 
Little  thinkeft  thou  how  near  thou  ftandeft  to  thy 
eternal  ftate,  and  how  near  the  pit  thou  art  dancing 
in  tliyjolHly.  If  thy- eyes  w-ere  but  opened,  as  they 
will  be  (hortly,  thou  wouldft  fee  all  this  that  I  have 
fpoken  before  thine  eyes,  without  ftirring  from  the 
place  in  which  thou  ftandeft.  Doft  thou  throw  by 
the  book,  and  fay,  it  fptaks  of  nothing  but  hell  and 
damnation  :  Thus  thou  ufjft  alfo  to  complain  of  the 
minifter;  but  wouldft  thou  not  have  us  tell  thee  of 
thefe  things  ?  Should,  we  be  guilty  of  the  blood  of 
thy  foul,  by  keeping  ftlent  that  which  God  hath 
charged  us  to  make  known  ?  Wouldft  thou  perifn  in 
eafc  and  filence,  and  alfo  have  us  to  perlfti  with  thee, 
rather  thau  difpleafe  thee,  by  fpeaking  the  truth  ?  If 
thou  wilt  be  guilty  of  fuch  inhnman  cruelty,  God 
forbid  we  fliould  be  guilty  of  fuch  fottifti  folly  ! 

There  are  few  preachers  fo  fimple,  but  they  know 
tliat  this  kiad  of  preaching  is  the  ready   way  to  be 

hated- 


■* 


1 24    The  Saints  E^cerlajiing  Rejr, 

hated  of  their  hearers  :  and  the  dcfirc  of  the  favour 
of  men  is  fo  natural,  that  few  delight  in  fuch  a  dif- 
pleafing  way.  But  1  bcfeech  thee  confider,  aic  tliefe 
things  true,  or  are  they  not?  If  they  were  not  true, 
I  would  heartily  join  with  thee  againft  any  miniftcr 
that  fiiould  offer  to  preach  them,  and  to  affright  poor 
people  when  there  is  no  caufe.  But  if  thefe  threat- 
cnings  be  the  word  of  God,  what  a  wretch  ail  thou 
ihat  wouldft  not  hear  it,  or  confider  it.  Why,  what 
is  the  matter  ?  If  thou  be  fure  that  thou  art  one  of 
the  people  of  God,  this  dodrinc  will  be  a  comfort 
to  thee  :  but  if  thou  be  yet  unregenerate,  methinka 
thou  ftiouldft  be  as  fearful  to  hear  of  heaven  as  of 
iitll,  except  the  bare  name  of  heaven  or  falvation  be 
lufiiclent.  Sure  there  is  no  doftrine  concerning  hea- 
ven in  all  the  fcripture  that  can  give  thee  any  com* 
fort,  but  upon  the  fuppofal  of  thy  converfion  ;  what 
comfort  is  it  to  thee,  to  hear  that  there  is  a  reft  remain- 
ing to  the  people  of  God,  except  thou  be  one  of  them  I 
Nay,  what  more  terrible,  than  to  read  of  Chrift  and  fal- 
vation for  others,  when  thou  muft  be  fhut  out  ?  There- 
fore, except  thou  wouldft  have  a  minifter  to  preach 
51  He,  it  is  all  one  to  thee,  for  any  comfort  thou  haft 
in  it,  whether  he  preach  of  heaven  or  hell  to  thee. 
His  preaching  heaven  and  mercy  to  thee,  can  be  no- 
thlnj^  elfe  but  to  entreat  thee  to  feek  them  ;  but  he 
can  make  thee  no  promife  of  it,  but  upon  condition 
of  thy  obeying  the  gofpel ;  and  his  preaching  hell,  is 
but  t©  perfuade  thee  to  avoid  it.  And  is  not  this 
tlofirine  fit  for  thee  to  hear  ?  Indeed  if  thou  wert 
quite  p:iil  hope  of  efcaping  it,  then  it  were  in  vain 
to  tell  thee  of  hell,  but  rather  let  thee  take  a  few  mer- 
ry hours  wiiilft  thou  may  ft  ;  but  as  long  as  thou  art 
alive,  there  is  hope  of  thy  recovery,  and  therefore 
all  means  nauft  be  ufcd  to  awake  ihce  from  thy  le- 
thargy. 


Oh 


The  Saints  Everlaflmg  Rejl.      125. 

Oh  that  fome  fon  of  thunder,  who  could  fpeak  as- 
Taul,  till  the  hearers  tremble,  were  now  to  preach 
this  dodlrine  to  thee  !  Alas  !  as  terrible  as  you  think 
I  fpeak,  yet  it  is  not  the  thoufandlli  part  ofwhatmuft: 
be  felt  ;  for  what  heart  can  now  conceive,  or  what 
tongue  exprefsthe  pains  of  thofe  fouls  that  are  under 
the  wrath  of  God  ?  Ah,  that  ever  blind  finners  fhould 
wilfully  bring  themfelvesto  fuch  unfpeakable  mifery  ! 
You  will  then  be  crying  to  Jefus  Chrill,  Oh  mercy  ! 
Oh  pity  i  Why,  I  do  now  in  the  name  of  the  Lord 
Jefus  cry  to  thee.  Oh  have  mercy,  have  pity  upon 
thine  own  foul  !  Shall  God  pity  thee,  who  wilt  not 
be  entreated  to  pity  thyfelf  ?  If  thy  horfe  fee  but  a 
pit  before  him,  thou  canft  fcarcely  force  him  in  ;  and 
wilt  thou  fo  obilinately  cafl  thyfclf  into  hell,  when 
the  danger  13  fotetold  thee!  0  ivho  can  fi  and  before 
ihe  Lordf  and  -who  can  abide  the  Jiercenefs  of  his  anger  ? 
Methinks  thou  faouldll  need  no  more  words,  but  pre- 
fently  cad  away  thy  fms,  and  deliver  up  thyfelf  to 
Chrift.  Refolve  on  it  immediately,  and  let  it  be  done, 
that  I  may  fee  thy  face  in  rellamongthe  faints.  Tlie 
Lord  perfuade  thy  heart  to  It  without  longer  delay  : 
but  if  thou  be  hardened  unto  death,  and  there  be  no 
remedy,  yet  do  not  fay  another  day,  but  that  thou  wait 
faithfully  warned,  and  that  thou  hadll  a  friend  tha': 
would  fain  have  prevented  thy  damnation. 

:^.  3c{  K^/?>:  i<(  .^^  K^' ?>';c^  ».:«:<{>>:):(  ^^^^^ 

C  H  A  P.     V.  . 

The  SecG?2d  life  reprehending  the  general 
Negled  of  this  Rcjl^  and  eaciting  to  Dili- 
gence in  fe eking  it. 


I 


COME  now  to  the  fecond  ufe.     If  there  be  fu  ccr- 
taia  and  glorious  a  reft,  why  13  thert;  no  more  fl-ek-' 


L   3 


jne 


^ 


126     The  Saints  Everlqfling  Rtjl. 

ing  after  It  ?  One  would  think  that  a  man  that  did 
but  once  hear  of  fuch  unfpeakable  glory,  and  did  be- 
lieve what  he  h-^areth  to  be  true,  ihould  be  tranfported 
with  defire  after  it,  fhould  almoll  forget  ro  eat  or 
drink,  and  miud  and  care  for  nothing  elfe,  and  fpeak 
of  and  enquire  after  nothing,  but  how  to  get  this  trea- 
fure  !  And  yet  people  who  licar  it  daily,  and  profcfs 
to  believe  it,  do  as  little  mind  it,  or  care,  or  labour 
for  it,  as  if  they  had  never  heard  of  any  fuch  thing, 
or  did  not  believe  one  word  that  they  hear. 

I  {IihIi  apply  this  reproof  more  particularly  to  four 
forts  of  men  :  Firft,  the  worldly-minded,  who  is  fa 
t^.ikcn  up  in  fecking  the  things  below,  that  he  hath 
neither  heart  nor  time  to  feek  this  reft. 

May  I  not  well  fay  to  thefe  men,  as  Paul  to  the 
Gulctlans  in  another  cafe,  Foolifh  finners  !  'who  hath 
beivi'ched you  P  It  is  not  for  nothing  that  divines  ufe 
to  call  the  world  a  witch  ;  fer  as  in  witchcraft,  men's 
lives,  fenfto,  goods  or  cattle  are  dcltroyed  by  a  ftrange, 
fccret,  unfeeii  power  of  the  devil,  of  which  a  man  can 
give  no  natural  rtafon  ;  fo  here,  men  will  deftroy  their 
own  foiiis  in  a  way  quite  againft  their  own  know- 
ledj;e.  Wi;uld  not  a  man  wonder,  that  is  in  his  right 
fcnlcs,  to  fee  what  riding  and  running,  what  fcramb- 
hu^r  and  catching  there  is  for  a  thing  of  nought,  while 
eternal  rell  lies  by  neglefted?  What  contriving  and  car- 
ing, whut  h^';i.ting  and  bloodfhed,  to  get  a  itep  higher 
in  the  world  than  their  brethren,  while  they  negle^l  the 
kingly  dignity  of  the  faints  !  What  infatiable  purfuitof 
jieflily  plcafures,  whilft  they  look  upon  the  praifes  of 
God,  which  is  the  joy  of  angels,  as  a  burden  !  What 
unwearied  diligence  is  there  in  raihng  their  pofterity, 
enlarging  their  pofTcflions,  gathering  a  little  filver  or 
gold  !  Yea,  perhaps  for  a  poor  living  from  hand  to 
mouth,  while  in  the  mean  time  their  judgment  is 
drawing  Dsar  i  and  yet  how  it   fliail  go  with  theni 

theui 


f 


The  Saints Everlq/ling  Refl.      127 

then,  or  how  they  (hall  live  eternally,  did  never  put 
them  to  one  hour^s  fober  confideration. 

What  rlfing  up  early,  fitting  up  late,  labouring 
and  caring  year  after  year,  to  maintain  themfelves  and 
children  in  ciedit  till  they  die;  but  what  fliall  follow 
after,  that  they  never  think  on  ;  and  yet  thefe  men 
cry  to  us,  may  not  a  man  be  faved  without  fo  much 
ado  ?  How  early  do  they  roufe  up  their  fervants  to 
their  labour  ?  [Up,  come  away  to  work,  we  have  this 
to  do,  and  that  to  do  ;]  but  how  fcldom  do  they  call 
ihem  [Up,  you  have  your  foul  to  look  to,  y©u  have 
ever  lading  life  to  provide  for  j  up  to  prayer,  to  the 
leading  of  the  fcripture.] 

What  a  gadding  up  and  down  the  world  Is  here, 
)ike  a  company  of  ants  upon  a  hillock,  taking  incef- 
fant  pains  to  gather  a  treauire,  which  death  will  fpurn 
abroad,  as  if  it  were  fuch  an  excellent  thing  to  die 
in  the  midli  of  wealth  and  honours  !  Or  as  if  it  would 
be  fuch  a  comfort  to  a  man  in  another  world,  to  think 
that  he  was  a  lord,  or  a  knight,  or  a  gentleman  or  a 
n'ch  man  on  earth  !  What  hath  this  world  done  for 
its  lovers  and  friends,  that  it  is  fo  eagerly  followed, 
and  painfully  fought  after,  while  Ct)vift  and  heaven 
Hand  by,  and  few  regard  them  ?  Or  what  will  the 
world  do  for  them  for  the  time  to  come  ?  The  com- 
mon entrance  into  it  is  throuy:h  anguiOi  and  forruw, 
'I'he  pafiage  through  it  is  with  continual  care  and  la- 
bour. The  paffage  out  of  it  is  with  the  greateft  fnarp- 
nefs  and  fadnefs  of  all.  What  then  doth  caufe  men  fo 
much  to  follow  and  affef^  it  ?  O  unreafonable  bewitcii- 
ed  men  !  Will  mirtii  and  pleafure  ftick  clofe  to  you  ? 
Will  gold  and  worldly  glory  prove'faft  friends  to  you 
m  the  time  of  your  greatcft  need  ?  Will  they  hear}:  nr 
cries  in  the  day  of  your  calamity  ?  If  a  man  {hot. Id 
fay  to  you,  as  Ellas  did  to  Baal's  priefls,  cry  .Jovci  : 
Oh  riches,  or  haaour,  now  help  us  !   Wili  they  e'r'  er 

anfwer 


1 28     The  Saints  Everhijluig  Reft, 

cfrfwer  or  reliv.=re  you  ?  Will  they  go  along  with  you 
to  another  world,  and  bribe  the  Judge,  and  bring  you  . 
off  clear  ;  or  purchafe  you  a  room  among  the  blcflld  ? 
Why  then  did  fo  ricli  a  man  want  a  drop  of  water  to 
cool  his  tongue  ?  Or  are  the  fwect  morfels  of  prefcnt 
delight  and  honour  of  more  worth  than  eternal  reft  ? 
and  will  they  recompenfe  the  lofs  of  that  enduring 
trcufurc  ?  Can  there  be  the  leaft  hope  of  any  of  thtfe  ? 
What  then  is  the  matter  ?  Is  it  only  a  room  for  our 
dead  bodies  that  we  are  fo  much  beholden  to  the  world 
for  ?  Why  this  is  the  laft  and  longeft  courtefy  that  we 
fliall  receive  from  It.  }3ut  we  fliall  have  this  whether 
we  ferve  it  or  no  ;  and  even  that  homely,  dufty  dwel- 
ling it  will  not  a{ff)rd  us  always  neither  ;  it  fhall  pof-^ 
fcfs  our  (}.\.\'^  but  till  the  refurre^tion.  How  then  doth 
the  world  deferve  fo  weir  at  men's  hands,  that  they 
fliould  part  with  Chrill  and  their  falvr.t ion  to  bt  its  fol- 
lowers ?  Ah  viJe  deceitful  world  !  how  oft  have  we 
heard  thy  faithfullcft  fcrvants  at  laft  complaining.  Oh 
the  world  hath  deceived  me,  and  undone  me  !  And  yet 
fucceeding  fmners  will. take  no  warning. 

So  this  is  the  firft  fort  of  negleders  of  heaven  which 
fall  under  this  reproof. 

2.  The  fccond  fort  here  to  be  reproved,  are  the 
profane,  ungodly,  prefumptuous  multitude,  who  will 
not  be  perfuaded  to  be  at  fo  much  pains  for  falvation, 
as  to  perform  the  common  outward  duties  of  religion. 
Yea,  though  they  are  convinced  that  thefe  duties  are 
commanded,  yet  will  they  not  be  brought  to  the  com- 
mon pradlice  of  them.  If  they  have  the  gofpel  preach- 
ed in  tiie  town  where  they  dwell,  it  may  be  they  will 
give  the  hearing  to«it  one  part  of  the  day,  and  ftay  at 
home  the  other  ;  or  if  the  mafter  come  to  the  congre- 
gation, yet  part  of  his  facrtily  muft  ftay  at  home.  If 
tUey  want  the  plain  and  powerful  preaching  of  the  gof- 
p-fl,  how  few  arc  there  in  a  whole  town  who  will  tra- . 


The  Saints  Ever  lofting  Rejl,    129 

vcl  a  mile  or  two  to  hear  abroad,  though  they  will  go 
jnany  miles  to  the  maiket  for  their  bodies. 

And  though  they  know  the  fcrlpture  Is  the  law  of 
God,  by  which  they  muft  be  acquitted  or  condemned 
in  judgment  ;  and  that  it  is  the  property  of  every 
bltrfied  man  to  delight  In  this  law,  and  to  meditate  in 
it  day  and  night,  yet  will  they  not  be  at  the  pains  to 
read  a  chapter  once  a  day,  nor  to  acquaint  their  fami- 
lies with  this  dodrlne  of  falvatlon.  But  if  they  carry 
a  bible  to  church,  and  let  it  lie  by  them  all  the  week, 
tl)is  is  the  moil  ufe  that  they  make  of  It.  And  though 
they  are  commandtd  Xo  pray  iv'uhout  cea/itig  ;  and  to 
pray  always  and  not  to  faint  ;  to  continue  in  prayer,  and 
nvaich  in  the  fame  ivith  thankf^iving  ;  yet  will  they  not 
pray  conftantly  with  their  families,  or  In  fecret.  Yoa 
may  hear  in  their  houfes  two  oaths  for  one  prayer. 
Or  if  they  do  any  thing  this  way,  it  is  ufually  but 
a  running  over  a  few  formal  words  wlu'ch  they  have 
'got  on  their  tongues'  end,  as  if  they  came  on  purpofe 
to  make  a  jell  of  prayer,  and  to  mock  God  and  their 
own  fouls. 

Alas  !  he  that  only  reads  In  a  book  that  he  Is  ml- 
ferable,  and  what  his  foul  Hands  In  need  of,  but  never 
felt  hlmfclf  miferable,  or  felt  his  feveral  wants,  no 
wonder  if  he  muft  alfo  fetch  his  prayer  from  his  book 
only,  or  at  fartheft  from  the  ftrength  of  his  memory. 
Solomon^s  requeft  to  God  was,  that  nvhal prayer  or  fup- 
plication  foever  fhould  he  made  by  any  man,  or  by  all  the 
people,  nvhen  every  man  Jhall  know  his  otvn  fore,  .ind 
his  own  grief,  and  fiall  fpread  forth  his  hands  before 
God,  that  God  Tvould  then  hear  and  forgive,  2  Chron. 
vl.  29,  30.  If  thefe  men  did  thus  know  and  feel 
every  man  the  foie,  and  the  grief  of  his  own  foul,  we 
fliouid  neither  need  fo  much  to  urge  them  to  prayer, 
nor  to  teach  them  how  to  perform  it.  Whereas  nowr 
they  invite  God  to  be  backward  in  giving,  by  ti.eir 

backwardaeia 


130    The  Saints  Everlajling  Rejl. 

backwardnefsin  an<ing  ;  and  to  be  weary  of  iclieving- 
them  by  their  own  being  weary  of  begging  ;  and  to 
be  feldom  and  fhort  in  his  favours,  as  they  are  in  their 
prayers  ;  and  to  give  them  but  common  and  outward 
favours,  as  they  put  up  but  common  and  outfide  re- 
quefls.  Yea,  their  cold  and  heartlefs  prayers  invite 
God  to  a  fiat  denial  :  for  among  men  it  is  taken  for 
granted,  that  he  who  afl-cs  but  flightly  and  feldom, 
cares  not  much  for  what  he  ado.  Do  not  thefe  men 
judge  themfelves  unworthy  of  heaven,  who  think  it 
not  Worth  their  more  conftant  and  earneft  requefls  ? 
If  it  be  not  worth  afking  for,  it  is  worth  nothing. 
And  yet  if  one  Ihould  go  from  lioufe  to  houfe,  througli 
town  and  parlfh,  and  enquire  at  every  houfe  as  you 
go,  whether  they  do  morning  and  evening  call  their 
family  together,  and  earneftly  feck  the  Lord  in  pray- 
er ;  how  few  would  you  hnd  that  conllantly  and  con- 
fcientiouHy  praclife  this  duty  ?  If  every  door  were 
marked  where  they  do  not  thus  call  upon  the  name  of 
God,  that  his  wrath  might  be  poured  out  upon  that 
family,  our  towns  would  be  as  places  overthrown  by 
the  plague,  the  people  being  dead  within,  and  the- 
mark  of  judgment  without.  I  fear  where  one  houfe 
would  efcape,  ten  would  be  marked  out  for  death  ; 
then  they  might  teach  their  doors  to  pray,  Lord  have 
mercy  upon  us ;  becaufe  the  people  -would  not  pray 
themfelves.  But  erj)ec;ally  if  you  could  fee  what  men 
do  in  their  fecret  chambers,  how  few  Ihould  you  find 
in  a  whole  town  that  fpend  one  quarter  of  an  hour, 
morning  and  ni^ht,  in  earntft  fupplication  to  God 
for  their  fouis  ?  Oh  hgw  little  do  thefe  men  fct  by  . 
eternal  reft.  ! 

Thus  do  they  flothfully  ncglcCt  all   endeavours  foi'  ■ 
their    own    welfare,    exc  pt  fume  public  duty  in  the 
congregation,  which     cullom    or.  credit  doth  engage 
them  to.    Pei  fuade  them  to  read  good  books,  and  they 
will  not  be  at  fo  much  pains*     rvifu^ide  them  to  learn 

the- 


The  Saints  Everhifiing  ReJ},    131 

-tlie  grounds  of  religion  in  feme  catechifm,  and  they 
think  it  toilfome  ilavery,  fit  for  fchool-boys.  Per- 
fuade  them  to  fan£lify  the  Lord's-day,  and  to  fpend 
it  wholly  in  hearing  the  word,  and  repeating  it  with 
their  families,  and  prayer  and  meditation,  and  to  for- 
bear all  their  worldly  thoughts  and  fpeeches  ;  and  what 
a  tedious  life  do  they  take  this  to  be  ;  and  how  long 
-may  you  preach  to  them,  before  they  will  be  brought 
to  it  ?  As  if  they  thought  heaven  were  not  worth  all 
this  ado. 

3.  The  third  foit  that  fall  under  this  reproof,  are 
thofc  felf- cozening,  formal,  lazy  profeflbrs  of  religi- 
on, who  will  be  brought  to  any  outward  duty,  but 
to  the  inward  work  they  will  never  be  perfuaded. 
They  will  preach,  or  htar,  or  read,  or  talk  of  heaven, 
•  or  pray  cuftomarily  or  conftantly  in  their  families, 
and  take  part  with  the  perfons  and  caufes  that  are 
good  ;  and  dcfire  to  be  edeemed  among  the  godly, 
but  you  can  never  bring  them  to  the  more  fpiritual 
duties ;  as  to  be  conftant  and  fervent  in  fecret  prayer  ; 
to  be  confcientious  in  the  duty  of  felf-examlnation,  to 
be  conllant  in  meditation,  to  be  heavenly-minded,  to 
watch  conftantly  over  their  heart,  and  words  and  ways, 
to  deny  their  bodily  fenfes  and  their  delights,  to  mor- 
tify the  flefh,  and  not  make  provifion  for  it,  to  fulfil 
its  lufts  ;  to  love  and  heartily  forgive  an  enemy,  and 
to  prefer  their  brethren  heartily  before  themfelves. 
The  outfide  hypocrites  will  never  be  perfuaded  to  any 
-of  thefe.  Above  all  other,  two  forts  there  are  of  thefe 
hypocrites. 

1.  The  fuperficial,  opinionative  hypocrite. 

2.  The  worldly  hypocrite. 

The  former  entertaineth  the  dodrine  of  thegofpel 
with  joy  J  biit  it  is  only  in  the   furfacc  of  his  foul, 

he 


1^2    The  Saints  E'uerlajling  Rejl, 

he  never  gives  the  feed  any  depth  of  earth.  He 
changeth  his  opinion,  and  thereupon  engageth  for 
reh'gion,  as  the  right  way,  but  it  never  melted  and 
new-moulded  his  heart,  nor  fet  up  Chrill  there  in  full 
power  and  authority  ;  as  his  religion  Is  but  opinion, 
fo  is  his  ftudy,  and  conference,  and  chief  bufmcfs  all 
about  opinion.  He  is  ufually  an  ignorant,  proud, 
bold  enquirer  and  babler  about  controverfies,  lather 
than  an  humble  embracer  of  the  known  truth,  with 
love  and  fubjcftion  :  yon  may  conjefture  by  his  bold 
and  forward  tongue,  and  conceitednefs  in  his  own 
opinions,  and  flighting  the  judgments  and  perfons  of 
others,  and  feldom  talking  of  the  great  things  of 
Chrill  with  ferioufnefs  and  humility — that  his  religi- 
on dwelleth  in  the  brain,  and  not  in  his  heart  ;  where 
the  wind  of  temptation  affaults  him,  he  eafily  yield- 
eth,  and  it  carrieth  him  away  as  a  feather,  becaufe  his 
heart  is  empty,  and  not  balanced  and  ellablifhed  with 
Chriil  and  grace.  If  this  man's  judgment  lead  him  in 
the  ceremonious  way,  then  doth  he  employ  his  chief 
zeal  for  ceremonies.  If  his  judgment  be  againft  ce- 
remonies, then  his  ftrongeft  zeal  is  employed  in  ftudy- 
ing,  talking,  difputing  againft  them,  and  cenfuring 
the  ufers  of  them.  For,  not  having  the  effentials  of 
chriftianity,  he  hath  only  the  mint  and  cummin,  the 
fmaller  matters  of  the  law,  to  lay  out  his  zeal  upon. 
You  fhall  never  hear  any  humble  and  hearty  bewail- 
ings  of  his  foul's  imperfeftions,  or  any  heart-bleeding 
acknowledgments  of  his  unkindnefles  to  Chrift,  of  any 
pantings  and  longings  after  him,  from  this  man  ;  but 
that  he  is  of  fuch  a  judgment,  or  fuch  a  religion,  or 
fociety,  or  a  member  of  fuch  a  church  :  herein  doth 
he  gather  his  greateft  comforts  :  but  the  Inward  and 
fpiritual  labours  of  achriftian  he  will  not  be  brought 
to. 

The  like  may  be  faid  of  the  worldly  hypocrite, 
who  choaketh  the  dodrine  of  the  ^ofpel  with  the 

thorns 


1 


The  Saints  Evcrlajling  R^L      1 3  3 

thorns  of  worldly  cares  and  defncs.  His  judgn-icnt  i,^ 
convinced  that  he  mail  be  religions,  or  he  cannot  hi 
faved  ;  and  therefore  he  reads,  and  hears,  and  pray;-, 
and  forfakes  his  foimer  company  and  courfes  ;  but 
becaufe  his  belief  of  the  gofpcl-doclrine  is  but  waver- 
ing and  (hallow,  he  refolvcs  to  keep  his  hold  of  pre- 
fent  things  ;  and  yet  to  be  religious,  that  fo  he  may- 
have  heaven,  when  he  can  keep  the  world  no  longer. 
Tliis  man'sjndgmcnt  may  fay,  God  is  the  chief  good„ 
but  his  heart  and  afFedions  never  faid  fo,  but  looked 
upon  God  as  to  be  tolerated  rather  than  tlie  flames  of 
hell,  but  not  defired  before  the  felicity  on  earth.  la 
a  word,  the  world  hath  more  of  his  affedions  than 
God,  and  therefore  is  his  god.  This  he  miglu  eallly 
know  and  feel,  if  he  would  judge  impartially,  and 
were  but  faitliful  to  hlnifelf.  And  though  this  rr.an 
does  not  gad  after  novelties  in  religion,  as  the  former, 
yet  will  lie  fet  his  fails  to  the  wind  of  worldly  advan- 
tage. And  as  a  man  whofe  fpirits  are  feized  on  br 
fome  ptiliJential  malignity,  is  feeble  and  faint,  and 
heartlefs  in  all  that  he  does  ;  fo  this  man's  fpirits  be- 
ing poffeiTed  by  the  plague  of  this  malignant,  world- 
ly difpofition,  how  faint  is  he  in  fecret  prayer  !  How 
fuperlklal  in  examination  and  meditation  !  How  fee- 
ble in  heart-watchings,  and  humbling,  mortifying  en- 
deavours !  How  nothing  at  all  in  loving  and  walking 
with  God,  rejoicing  In  him,  or  defiring  him  !  So 
that  both  thefe,  and  many  other  forts  of  lazy,  hypo- 
crites there  are,  who  though  they  will  trudge  on  with 
you  in  the  eafy  out  fide  of  religion,  yet  will  never  be 
at  the  pains  of  inward  and  fpiritual  duties. 

4.  And  even  good  men  themfelves  deferve  this  re- 
proof, for  being  too  lazy  feekcrs  of  cverlalling  reft, 
i^las,  what  a  difproportion  is  there  between  our  h'ght 
and  our  heat  I  our  profcliions  and  profecutifin  !  Who 
luakes  that  hafte,  as  if  it  were  for  heaven  ?  How  fiill 
we  iland  !  Hov/  idly  we  work  1  How  we  talk,  and 
iNt  jcft, 


T  n 


4    The  Saints  Everlajling  Rejl, 


jeft,  and  trifle  away  our  time  !  How  deceitfully  \re 
do  the  work  of  God  !  How  we  hear,  as  if  we  heard 
hot  ;  and  pray,  as  if  we  prayed  not  ;  and  confer,  and 
examine,  and  meditate,  and  reprove  fin,  as  if  we  did 
it  not  ;  and  ufe  the  ordinances,  as  if  we  ufed  them 
not ;  and  enjoy  Chrift,  as  if  we  enjoyed  him  not  ;  as 
f f  we  had  learned  to  ufe  the  things  of  heaven,  as  the 
apoftle  teacheth  us  to  ufe  the  world  !  Who  would  think 
that  ftood  by  us,  and  heard  us  pray  in  private  or  pub- 
lic, that  we  were  praying  for  no  lefs  than  everlafting 
glory  ?  Should  heaven  be  fought  no  more  earneftly 
than  thus  ?  Methinks  we  are  none  of  us  all  in  good 
ladnefs  for  our  fouls.  We  do  but  dally  with  the  work 
of  God,  and  play  with  Chrift,  as  children  play  with 
their  meat  when  they  ftiould  eat  it  ;  we  hang  upon  or- 
dinances from  day  to  day,  but  we  liir  not  ourfclves  to 
feek  the  Lord. 

I  fee  a  great  many  very  canftant  in  hearing  and 
praying,  but  they  do  not  hear  and  pray  as  if  it  were 
for  their  lives.  Oh,  what  a  frozen  ftupidity  hath  be- 
numbed us  !  The  plague  of  /^o/'s  wife  is  upon  us,  as 
if  we  were  changed  into  lifelefs  and  immoveable  pil- 
lars :  we  are  dying,  and  we  know  it,  and  yet  we  llir 
not  ?  we  are  at  the  door  of  eternal  happinefs  or  mi- 
fery,  and  yet  we  perceive  it  not  :  death  knocks,  and 
we  hear  it  not:  Chrift  calls  and  knocks,  and  we  hear 
not :  God  cries  to  us,  to-day  tf^ou  will  hear  my  voice, 
harden  not  your  hearts.      Work   while  it-  is  day,  for  the 

^flight  cometh  when  none  can  'uork.  Now  ply  your  bu- 
finefs,  now  labour  for  your  lives  ;  now  lay  out  all 
your  ftrength.  Now  or  never  ;  and  yet  we  ftir  no  more 
than  if  we  v/ere  half  afleep.      What  hafte  do  death  and 

judgment  make  !  How  faft  do  ihey  come  on  !  They 
are  almoft  at  us,  and  yet  what  little  hafte  make  we  ! 
The  fpur  of  God  is  in  our  fide,  we  bleed,  we  groan, 
and  yet  we  do  not  mend  our  pace.  Lord,  what  a 
fenfelefs,  fottifh,  earthly,  hcUifli  thin^  is  a  hard  heart ! 

That 


I 


The  Saints  Everlajling  Reft, 


3> 


That  we  will  not  go  roundly  and  clieerfiilly  toward 
heaven  without  all  this  ado?  No,  nor  with  it  neither  ? 
Where  is  the  man  that  is  ferioiis  in  his  chriilianity  ? 
Methinks  men  every  where  make  but  a  trifle  of  their 
eternal  ilate.  They  look  after  it  hut  a  little  by  the 
by  ;  they  do  not  make  it  the  taflc  and  bulincfs  of  their 
lives. 

To  be  plain  with  you,  I  think  nothing  undoes  men 
i<i  much  as  complimenting  and  jelling  in  religion. 
Oh,  if  I  were  not  Tick  myfelf  of  the  fame  difeafe, 
with  what  tears  would  I  mix  this  ink  ;  and  with  what 
groans  fhould  I  exprefs  thefe  fad  complaints  ;  and  with 
what  heart's  grief  Hiould  I  mourn  over  this  univerfal 
^eadncfs  !  Do  the  magillrates  among  us  ferioufly  per- 
form their  portion  of  the  M'ork  ?  are  they  zealour>  for 
God?  do  they  build  up  his  houfe  ?  are  they  tender 
jjf  his  honour  ?  do  they  fecond  the  word  ?  encourage 
the  good  ?  relieve  the  oppreffcd  ?  compaflionate  the 
diilrefied  ?  and  fly  at  the  face  of  fin  and  finncrs,  as 
being  the  diflurbers  of  our  peace,  and  the  only  caufe 
of  all  our  miferi^s  ?  do  they  ft:udy  how  to  do  the  ut- 
mofl;  they  can  for  God  ?  to  improve  their  power  and 
parts,  and  wealth  and  honour,  and  all  their  intered 
for  the  grcatert  advantage  to  the  kingdom  of  Chrifi:, 
as  men  that  mull  fhortly  give  an  account  of  their 
ilevvardfhip?  or  do  they  build  their  own  houfes,  and 
feek  their  advancements,  and  contefl  for  their  own  ho- 
nours, and  do  no  more  for  Chrlfl  than  needs  they  mud, 
or  than  lies  in  their  way,  or  than  is  put  by  others  into 
their  hands,  or  than  (lands  with  the  pleafing  of  their 
friends,  or  with  their  worldly  interell  ? 

And  how  thin  are  thofe  minifters  that  are  feri'ous  in 
their  work  !  Nay,  how  m.ightily  do  the  very  bed  fail 
in  this  I  Do  we  cry  out  of  men's  difobedience  to  the 
gofpcl.  in  the  evidence  and  power  of  the  Spirit,  and 
4ciil  w'ilh  fill,  as  tK«;i  ji'bich  h   the  fire  in  our  towns 


I  35    77jc  S.iifits  Everlafiir,^  Rcjl. 

and  houfes,  and  by  force  pnll  men  out  of  tliis  fire? 
Do  we  pcrfuade  our  people,  as  tkofe  that  know  the 
terrors  of  the  Lord  fhonid  do  ?  Do  we  prcfs  Chrlll, 
and  regeneration,  and  faith,  and  holinefs,  as  men  that 
helicve  indeed,  tliat  without  ihefe  they  fnall  never 
have  life  ?  Do  our  bowels  yearn  over  the  ignorant,  and 
the  careiefs,  and  the  obftinate  multitude,  as  men  that 
believe  their  own  dodlrine  ?  When  we  look  them  in 
the  face,  do  our  hearts  melt  over  them,  left  we  fhould 
never  fee  their  faces  in  reft  ?  Do  we,  as  Paul,  tell  them 
vvctpins;,  of  their  nefhly  and  earthly  dirpofjtion  ?  And 
teach  them  puhJickly,  and  from  houfe  to  houfe,  x\\^\\K. 
snd  day  with  tears?  And  do  we  entreat  them,  as  if  it 
v/ere  indeed  for  their  lives  ?  tliat  when  we  fpeak  of 
the  joys  and  miferics  of  another  world,  our  people 
may  fee  us  afFeded  accordingly,  and  perceive  that  we 
mean  as  we  fpeak  ?  Or  rather,  do  we  not  ftudy  words  ? 
As  if  a  minifter's  bufinefs  were  but  to  tell  them  a 
imoolh  tale  of  an  hour  long,  and  fo  look  no  more  af- 
ter them  till  the  next  fermon. 

Oh  the  formal,  frozen,  lifelefs  ferraons  which  we 
daily  hear  preaclied  upon  the  moft  weighty,  piercing 
fubjcAs  in  the  world  !  How  gently  do  we  handle  thofe 
fins,  which  will  handle  fo  cruelly  our  people's  fouls  ! 
And  how  tenderly  do  we  deal  with  their  cnrelcfs  hearts, 
not  fpeaking  to  them  as  men  that  m.uft  be  awakened 
or  damned  !  We  tell  them  of  heaven  and  hell  in  fuch 
a  Ofepy  tone,  and  flight  way,  as  if  we  were  but  a6l- 
ing  a  part  in  a  play  ;  fo  that  we  ufually  preach  our 
people  a  fieep  with  thofe  fubjefts,  which  one  would 
think  fhould  rather  endanger  the  driving  fome  befide 
thtmrL-lves. 

In  a  word,  our  want  of  ferioufnefs  about  the  things 
of  heaven,  doth  charm  the  fouls  of  men  into  formal- 
ity, ar,d  hath  brouglit  them  to  this  cuftomary,  care- 
lefb'  hearing,  which  undoes  them.     The  Lord  pardon 

the 


Th^  Saints  Everlajling  Refl.     137 

the  great  fin  of  the  miniftry  in  this  thing,  and,  In  par- 
lie  ular,  my  own. 

And  are  the  people  any  more  ferlous  than  maglf- 
trates  and  minifters  ?  How  can  it  be  expected  ?  Read- 
er, look  but  to  thyfelf,  and  refolve  the  queilion.  Afl-: 
confcience,  and  faffer  it  to  tell  thee  truly.  Haft  thou 
fet  thine  eternal  reft  before  thine  eyes  as  the  great  ba- 
finefs,  which  thou  haft  to  do  in  this  world  ?  Haft  thou 
ftudied,  and  cared,  and  watched,  and  laboured  witU 
^11  thy  might,  left  any  fl^ould  take  thy  crown  from 
thee  ?  Haft  thou  made  hafte,  left  thou  ftiouldft  come 
too  late,  and  die  before  the  work  be  done  ?  Hath  thy 
heart  been  fet  upon  it,  and  thy  dcfires  and  thoughts 
Jim  out  this  way  ?  Haft  thou  prefTed  on  through 
crowds  of  oppofilion  ioivards  the  mark,  fur  the  prize  of 
the  high  calling  of  God  in  Chrift  Jcfus  ?  \Vhen  you 
have  fet  your  hand  to  the  work  of  God,  have  you 
done  It  with  all  your  might  f  Can  confcience  witnefs 
your  fecret  cries,  and  gtoans,  and  tears  ?  Can  your 
families  witnefs  that  you  have  taught  them  the  fear 
<)f  the  Lord,  and  warned  them  all  with  earneftnefs 
and  unweaiicdnefs  to  remember  God  and  their  fouls? 
Or  that  you  have  done  bat  as  much  for  them,  as  that 
damned  glutton  would  have  had  La%arus  do  for  his 
brethren  on  earth,  to  warn  them  that  they  come  not 
to  that  place  of  torment  ?  Can  your  minifters  witnefs 
that  they  have  heard  you  cry  out,  What  Jhall  ivecJoto 
be  fivcd  ?  And  that  you  have  followed  them  with, 
complaints  againft  your  cotruptions,  and  with  earneft: 
enquiries  after  the  Lord  ?  Can  your  neighbours  about 
you  witnefs,  that  you  are  ftill  learning  of  them  that 
are  able  to  inftrud  you?  And  that  you  plainly  and 
louiuUy  reprove  the  ungodly,  and  take  pains  for  the 
favi.ig  uf  your  brethren's  fouls  ?  Let  allthefe  witneftes 
judge  this  day  between  God  and  you,  whether  you 
£st  in  good  eai  neft  about  eternal  reft. 

U  2  .  3:>L 


135     The  Saints  Ei^erlaPang  Rep. 

But  If  yet  yon  cannc-t  difcern  your  ncgieds,  look 
but  to  yourftlves  ;  within  you,  without  you,  to  the 
woik  you  have  done  :  you  can  tell  by  his  work  whe- 
ther your  fervant  hath  loitered,  though  you  did  not 
fee  him  }  fo  you  may  by  yourfclves.  Is  your  love  to 
Chrift,  your  faith,  your  zeal,  and  other  graces,  llrong 
or  weak  j*  What  are  you:  joys?  What  is  your  alTur- 
ance  ?  Is  all  right  and  ftrong,  and  In  order  within 
you  ?  hxc  you  ready  to  die,  if  this  fliould  be  the 
(lay  r  Do  the  fouls  among  whom  you  have  converfed, 
blefs  you  r  Why,  jndge  by  this,  and  it  will  quickly 
appear  whetlicr  you  have  been  labourers  or  loiterers. 

C  li  A  P.     VL 

An  Exhortation  to  Scriovfncfs  infeehing  Reft. 

HOPE,  reader,  by  this  time  thou  art  fomewhat 
fenftble,  what  a  defperate  thing  it  is  to  trifle  about 
eternal  rell  ;  and  how  deeply  thou  hall  been  guilty 
of  this  thyftlf.  And  1  hope  alfo,  that  thou  darell  not 
now  fuficr  this  conviction  to  die  ;  but  art  refolved 
to  be  another  man  for  the  time  to  come  :  What  fay- 
cii  tI;ou  ?  Is  this  thy  refolution  ?  If  thou  wert  fick 
of  fome  cVfperate  difeafe,  rod  the  phylician  fhould 
teil  thee,  if  you  will  obfervebut  one  thing,  I  doubt 
not  to  cure  you  :  wouldfl:  tliou  not  obferve  it  ?  Why, 
if  thou  wilt  obftrve  but  this  one  thing  Tor  tliy  foul, 
I  make  no  doubt  of  thy  falvation  ;  if  thou  wilt  now 
but  fiiake  off  thy  floth  and  put  to  all  thy  flrength, 
and  be  a  downright  chriftian,  I  know  not  what  can 
liinder  thy  happlnefs.  As  far  as  thou  art  gone  from 
Gc^d,  if  thou  now  return  and  feek  him  with  thy  whole 
htitjt,  no  doubt  but  thou  ffialt  find  him.  As  unkind- 
ly 


The  Saints  EverlaJIing  Rejl,     139 

]y  as  thou  liad  dealt  with  Jcfus  Clirifl,  if  tliou- 
didll  but  ffcl  thyfelf  lick  and  dead,  and  feck  !iim 
heartily,  and  apply  thyfelf  in  good  earn«2ll  to  the  obe- 
dience of  his  laws,  thy  falvation  were  as  fiirc  as  if  th.oa- 
hadil  it  already  :  but  as  full  as  the  fatisfadion  of  Chriib 
is,  as  frte  as  the  promife  is,  as  large  as  the  mercy  of 
God  is  ;  yet  if  thou  do  but  look  on  thefe,  and  talk 
of  them,  wlien  thou  fliouldll  greedily  entertain  them, 
thou  vviit  be  rvevei  the  belter  for  them  :  and  if  tliou 
ftiouldil  loiter  when  thoa  (houldit  labour,  thou  wilt 
lofe  the  crown.  O  fall  to  work  then  fpeedily,  and  fe- 
rioufly,  and  blefs  God  thai  thou  haft  ytt  time  to  do  it  ;■ 
and  though  that  which  is  pail  cannot  be  recalled,  yet- 
redceai  the  ti.ne  now  by  doubling  thy  diligence. 

And  becaiife  thou  (Irak  fee  I  nige  ihee  not  without 
caufe,  i  will  here  adjoin  a  multitude  of  confiderati- 
ons  to  move  thee  :  their  int-eat  and  ufc  is,  to  drive 
thee  from  delaying,  and  from  loitering  in  fetking 
reit.  Whoever  thou  art  therefore,  I  entreat  thee  to 
lor.fc  up  thy  fpirit,  and  give  me  awhile  thy  atten- 
tion, and  (as  My'^/-  faid  to  the  people)  Set  thy  heart  to, 
{fi!  !'?e  ivonls  that  I  teji'ify  to  thee  this  day  ;  for  i'  is  not 
a  vain  thinly  but  it  is  for  rhy  life.  Weigh  what  I  here 
writev  with  the  judgment  of  a  man  ;  and  the  Lord 
open  thy  heart,  and  fallen  his  counfel  eilettually  up- 
on thee. 

I.  Confidjr  our  affections  and  anions  fliould  be 
anfwerabjc  to  the  greatnelsof  tlie  ends  to  which  they 
are  intended.  Now  the  ends  of  a  chrillian's  defjres 
and  endeavours  are  io  great,  that  no  human  under- 
ilanding  on  earth  can  comprciiend  them  ;  whetlieryou 
relp^dt  their  proper  excellency,  their  exceeding  im- 
portance, or  their  abfolute  nccefiity. 

Thefe  ends  arc,  the  glon'fying  of  God,  the  falva- 
tion of  our  owii  audothtr  men's  fouls,  in  efcaping  ihtr 

tormenli 


140    The  Saints  EveHaJling  Rtjl, 

torments  of  hell,  and  pofTcffin^  the  glory  of  heaven. 
And  can  a  man  be  too  much  affedted  with  things  of 
fuch  moment  ?  Can  lie  defire  them  too  earncftly,  or 
love  them  too  violently,  or  labour  for  them  too  dili- 
gently ?  When  we  know  that  if  our  prayers  prevail 
not,  and  our  labour  fucceeds  not,  we  are  undone  for 
ever,  I  think  it  concerns  us  to  ftek  and  labour  to  the 
purpofe.  When  it  is  put  to  the  queftion,  whether  we 
ihall  live  for  ever  in  heaven  or  in  hell  ?  and  the  quefti- 
oamuft  be  refolved  upon  our  obeying  the  gofpel,  or 
dilobeying  it,  upon  the  painfulncfs  or  the  fjothfulnefs 
of  our  prefent  endeavours ;  1  think  it  is  time  for  us 
to  bedir  ourfelves,  and  to  leave  our  trifling  and  com- 
jilimeating  with  God. 

2.  Canfidcr,  our  diligence  fhoul-d  be  anfv^'crable  to 
the  greatuefs  of  the  work  which  we  have  to  do,  as 
well  as  to  the  ends  of  it. 

Now,  the  works  of  a  chriRian  here  are  very  many, 
iindvery  great  :  the  foul  muft  be  renewed  ;  many  and 
great  corruptions  mortihed  ;  cuftom,  temptations  and 
worldly  interelt  muft  be  conquered  ;  fiefh  nvuft  be 
maftered  ;  life  and  friends,  and  credit,  and  all  muft  be 
{lighted  ;  confcience  muft  be  upon  good  grounds  qui- 
eted ;  afTurance  of  pardon  and  falvation  muft  be  at- 
tained. And  though  it  is  God  that  muft  give  us 
thefe,  and  that  freely,  without  our  own  merits  ;  yet 
ivillhe  not  give  them  without  our  earneft  feekiwg  and 
labour. 

Befid-es,  there  is  a  deal  of  knowledge  to  be  got,  for 
the  guiding  ourfelves,  for  defending  the  tvucii,  for  the 
direction  of  others,  and  a  deal  of  n<ill  for  the  right 
rnanaging  of  our  parUs :  many  ordinances  aie  to  be 
iifed,  and  duties  to  be  performed,  ordin.:ry  and  ex- 
traordinary ;  every  age,  and  year,  and  day,  doth  re- 
<^i:ire  frelh  fucceffioa  of  duty  j  ^stxy  place  we  come 


The  Saints  EverlajTnig  Rtft.     141 

>n,  every  peiTon  we  have  to  deal  with,  every  change 
of  our  condition,  doth  ftill  require  the  renewing  our 
labour,  and  bringeth  duty  along  with  it  :  wives, 
children,  fervants,  neighbours,  fricr.ds,  enemies,  all 
of  \\\t\\\  call  for  duty  from  us  :  ?.nd  all  this  of  great 
importance  too  ;  fo  thnt  for  the  moil,  if  we  mifcarry 
in  it,  it  wouLi  prove  our  undoing. 

Judge  then  yoiirfelves,  wliet'ncr  Tien  that  have  ^ci 
m  ich  bufinefs  lying  upon  their  hands,  fhould  not  be- 
llir  them  ?  And  vvhctlKr  it  be  their  wifdom  either  to 
delay,  or  to  luittr  ) 

%.  Confider,  oiir  diligence  fliauLJ  be  qteickened,  bs- 
caiTe  of  t'le  ihortnefs  and  uncertainty  of  the  time  al- 
lotted us  for  the  performing  of  all  this  w^ork,  and  the 
many  and  great  impediments  which  we  meet  with. 
Yet  a  fe//  days,  and  we  fliall  be  here  no  more.  Time 
paiTeth  on  :  many  difeafes  are  leady  to  alTault  us  ;  we 
t!iat  now  are  preaching,  ^id  hearing,  and  talking,  and 
.  walking,  mud  very  fho.tly  be  carried,  and  laid  in  the 
du*l,  and  there  l.-ft  to  tl'.e  worms  in  darknefs  and  cor- 
luption  ;  we  are  almoll  there  already  ;  it  is  but  a  few 
days,  or  months,  or  years,  and  what  is  that  when 
once  they  are  paft  ?  We  know  not  whether  we  fhall 
hHV;r  an.)ther  fei  mon,  or  fabbath,  or  hour.  How  thet) 
fhould  thofe  beillr  them  for  their  everlafting  vefl;,  who 
know  they  have  fo  fhort  a  fpace  for  fo  great  a  work  ? 
Befides,  every  Itep  in  the  way  hath  its  diiticnkies  :  the 
gate  is  Jirait,  an.i  the  icay  narrozv  :  the  ri^htecu!  them' 
fehes  are  fcirc-!\  fjvei.  Scandals  and  difcouragementa 
will  be  rtill  caPt  before  us  :  and  can  all  thefe  be  eve;- 
come  by  ilothful  endeavours  ? 

4.  Moreover,  o'jr  diligence  Hioukl  be  anfwcrable  to 
the  dilii^ence  of  our  enemies  in  feeking  our  deiliudli- 
on.  For  if  we  fit  ftill  while  tliey  are  plotting  and  la- 
bouring ;  oi-  if  we  be  Ir./y  in  our  dt  fence,  while  they 

aro 


142    77?^  Saifits  Ever  hiding  Rejl. 

aic  diligent  in  aflaulting  us,  you  may  eafily  conceive 
liow  we  are  liktrly  to  fpecd.  How  diligent  is  Satan  in 
all  kinds  of  temptations  !  Therefore,  be  foler  and  •vigi- 
lant, hscaufe  y:ur  aiivtrfary,  the  dczi/,  as  a  roaring  Hon 
'Ufaikfth  abouti  fecking  avhom  he  may  detour.  Hov/ 
diligent  are  all  the  miniflers  of  Satan  /  Falfe  teach- 
ers, fcorners  at  godiinefs,  malicious  perfecutors,  all 
unwearied  ;  and  our  inward  corruption  the  moft  bufy 
and  diligent  of  all:  w'hatever  we  arc  about,  it  ia  flill 
refifling  us;  depraving  our  duties,  perverting  our 
thoughts,  dulling  our  affeftions  to  good,  exciting 
them  to  evil  :  and  will  a  feeble  refjftance  fcrve  our 
turn  ?  Should  we  not  be  more  adlivc  for  our  own  pre- 
fervation,  than  our  enemies  for  our  ruin  ? 

5.  Our  affections  and  endeavours  fhould  bear  fome 
proportion  with  the  talents  we  have  received,  and 
means  we  have  enjoyed. 

It  may  well  be  expe6^ed  that  a  horfemnn  fliould  go 
fafter  than  a  footman  :  and  he  that  hath  a  fwift  horfe, 
fader  than  he  that  hath  a  flow  one.  More  work  will 
be  expelled  from  a  found  man,  than  from  the  lick  ; 
and  from  a  man  at  age,  than  from  a  child  ;  and  to 
whom  men  commit  much,  from  them  they  will  ex- 
pect the  more. 

Now  the  talents  which  we  have  received  are  many 
and  great;  the  meaiis  which  we  have  enjoyed  are  ve- 
ry many,  and  very  precious.  What  people  breathing 
on  earth,  have  had  plainer  inRruftions,  or  more  forci- 
ble perfuafions,  or  conftant  admonitions,  in  fcafon  and 
out  of  fcafon  ?  Sermons,  till  we  have  been  weary  of 
them  :  and  fabbaths,  till  we  profaned  thera  ?  Excel- 
lent books  in  fuch  plenty,  that  we  knew  not  which 
to  read  !  VVnat  people  have  had  God  fo  near  them  us 
we  have  had  .■*  Or  have  fecn  Chrilt,  as  it  were,  crucifi- 
ed before  their  eyes,  as  v/e  hav£  done  :'  What  people 

have 


llje  Saints  Everlqfiing  Reji,    143 

have  had  heaven  and  hell,  as  it  vc-ere,  opened  ui;to 
them,  as  we  ?  Scarce  a  day  wherein  we  have  not  had 
foijie  fpiir  to  put  us  on.  What  fpecd  then  fliould  fuch 
a  people  make  for  heaven  ?  How  fhould  they  fly  that 
are  thus  winged  ?  And  how  fwiftly  fhould  they  fail 
that  have  wind  and  tide  to  help  them  ?  Believe  it, 
brethren,  God  looks  for  more  from  England,  than 
from  moil  nations  in  the  -world  ;  and  for  more  from 
you  that  enjoy  thefe  helps,  than  from  the  dark  un- 
taught congregations  of  the  land.  A  fmall  meafure 
of  grace  befeems  not  fuch  a  people  ;  nor  will  an  ordi- 
r:ary  diligence  in  the  work  of  God,  excufe  them  ! 

6.  The  vigour  of  our  affc(5^ions  and  adions  fnould 
be  anfwerable  to  the  great  cod  beftowed  upon  us,  and 
to  the  deep  engaging  mercies  which  we  have  receiv- 
ed from  God.  Surely  we  owe  more  fervice  to  our 
mafter,  from  whom  we  have  our  maintenance,  than 
we  do  to  a  llranger,  to  whom  we  were  never  be- 
holden. 

O  thecoft  that  God  hath  been  at  for  our  fakes  ! 
The  riches  of  fea  and  land,  of  heaven  and  earth,  hath 
he  poured  out  unto  us.  All  our  lives  have  been  filled 
up  with  mercies  :  we  cannot  look  back  upon  one  hour 
of  it,  or  pafTage  in  it,  but  we  may  behold  mercy. 
We  feed  upon  mercy,  we  wear  mercy  upon  our  backs, 
we  tread  upon  mercy  ;  mercy  within  us,  mercy  with- 
out us  for  this  life,  and  for  that  to  come.  O  the  rare 
deliverances  that  we  have  partaken  of,  both  national 
.and  perfonal !  How  oft,  how  feafonably,  how  fully 
have  our  prayers  been  heard,  and  our  fears  removed  ! 
What  large  catalogues  of  particular  mercies  can  every 
chviftian  rehearfe  !  To  offer  to  number  them  would  be 
as  endlefs  a  tafl<:,  as  to  number  the  ftars,  or  the  fands  of 
the  fliore. 


If 


144   ^^^  Saints  Everiajling  Rejl, 

If  there  be  any  difference  betwir.t  hell,  (where  we 
fhould  have  been)  and  earth,  (where  we  now  are)  yea, 
or  heaven,  (which  is  olTeredtous)  then  certainly  we 
have  received  mercy  :  yea,  if  the  blood  of  the  Son  of 
God  be  mercy,  then  are  we  engaged  to  God  by  mer- 
cy ;  for  fo  much  did  it  co(l  him  to  recover  us  to  him- 
fclf.  And  fliould  a  people  of  fuch  deep  engagements 
be  lazy  in  their  returns  ?  Shall  God  think  nothing, 
too  much  nor  too  good  for  us;  and  (hall  we  think  all 
too  much  that  we  do  for  him  ?  Thou  that  ait  an  ob- 
Hrving  fenfible  man,  who  knowcfl:  how  much  thou 
ait  beholden  to  God,  1  appeal  to  thee,  is  not  a. 
loitering  performance  of  a  few  heartlefs  duties,  an 
unworthy  requital  of  fuch  admirable  kindnefs  ?  For 
my  own  part,  when  I  compare  my  flow  and  unprofit- 
able life,  with  the  frequent  and  wonderful  mercies  re- 
ceived, it  fliames  me,  it  filenceth  me,  and  leaves  me 
in  excu  fable. 

7.  Confider,  all  the  relations  which  we  ftand  In 
toward  God,  call  upon  us  for  our  utmoft  diligence. 
Should  not  the  pot  be  wholly  at  the  fcrvice  of  the 
potter,  and  the  creature  at  the  fervice  of  his  Creator  ? 
Are  wc  his  children,  and  do  we  not  ov^'c  him  our 
moil  tender  affections,  and  dutiful  obedience  ?  Are 
we  the  fpoufe  of  Chriil,  and  do  we  not  owe  him  our 
ohfervance,  and  our  love  ?  If  he  he  our  father,  luhere 
is  his  honour  ?  ani  if  he  be  our  mafler^  ivhcre  is  his 
fear  P  IVe  call  him  Lord  an  I  Mnjlcr,  and  -wc  Jo  ivell : 
but  if  our  induftry  be  not  anfwerable  to  our  relations, 
v.'e  condemn  ourfelves  in  faying,  we  are  his  children, 
or  his  fcrvants.  How  will  the  hard  labour  and  daily- 
toil  ^hat  fervants  undergo  to  pleafe  their  matters, 
judge  and  condemn  thofe  men  who  will  not  labour  fo 
hard  for  their  grtat  mailer  ?  Surely  there  is  none  have 
a  more  honourable  matter  than  w^',  nor  can  expedl 
fuch  fruit  of  their  labours* 

S.  How 


The  Sdints  Kverlajling  R^'Jl,     145 

8.  How  dole  fhould  -they  p^y  their  work,  who 
fiave  fuch  attendants  as  we  have  !  r\li  the  world  are  oi:r 
fervants,  that  we  may  be  the  fervants  of  God.  The 
fun,  and  moon,  and  Uars,  attend  us  with  their  h'ght 
and  influence  :  the  earth,  with  all  its  furniture,  is  at 
our  fervlce  :  how  many  thoufand  plants,  and  flowers, 
and  fruits,  and  birds,  and  beads,  do  all  attend  us  ? 
7'he  fea  with  its  inhabitants,  the  air,  the  wind,  the 
froft  and  fnow,  the  heat  and  fire,  the  clouds  and  rain, 
all  wait  upon  us  wliile  we  ^^o  our  work:  yea,  the  an- 
gels are  min'ijJerin^  fp'^^'i^^  fif  ^^-  And  is  it  not  an  in- 
tolerable crime  for  us  to  trifle,  while  all  thefe  are  em- 
ployed to  afhit  us  ?  Nay  more  ;  the  patience  of  Go» 
doth  wait  upon  us:  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  wait- 
eth,  in  the  offers  of  his  blood  ;  the  holy  Spirit  wait- 
eth,  in  flriving  with  our  backward  hearts  :  bcfides, 
all  his  fervants,  the  minifters  of  Ju*s  gofpel,  who  ftn- 
dy  and  wait,  and  preach  and  wait,  and  pray  and  wait 
upon  carelefa  llnnc-rs  :  and  fhall  anpiels  and  men,  yea 
the  Lord  himfelf,  (land  by  ar.d  look,  on,  while  thou 
doll  nothing? 

O  chrillians,  I  befeech  yen,  whenever  you  are  on 
your  knees  in  prayer,  or  reproving  the  tranfgreiTors,  or 
exhorting  the  obllinate,  or  upon  any  duty,  do  but  re- 
member what  attendants  you  have  for  this  work  :  and 
then  judge  how  it  behoves  you  to  perform  it. 

9.  How  forward  and  painful  fhould  we  be  in  tliat 
work,  where  we  are  fure  we  can  ntver  do  enough  ?  If 
there  were  any  danger  in  over-doing,  then  it  might 
well  caufe  men  to  moderate  their  endeavours  :  but  we 
know,  that  if  we  cou.d  do  all,  ive  were  hut  unpv  fiiable 

fervants  \  much  more  when  we  fail  in  all. 

It  is  true,  a  man  may  pofBbly  preach  too  much,  or 

hear  too  much,   (though  I  have  known  few  that  did 

fo;  but  yet  no  man  can  obey  or  ferve  God  too  much  : 

N  one 


I 


146    The  Saints  Everlnjl'ing  Rcji, 

one  duty  may  be  faid  to  be  too  long,  when  It  (hllts^out 
another  ;  and  th<:n  it  ceaftlh  indeed  to  be  a  duty.  And 
all  ruptrrftition,  or  worfnip  of  our  own  devifing-,  may 
be  called  a  vighteourncrs  over  much  ;  yet  as  long  as  you 
keep  your  fervice  to  the  rule  of  the  word,  you  never 
need  to  fear  being  I'lghious  onrr  much  ;  for  elfe  we 
fhould  n  proach  the  Lord  and  Lawgiver  of  the  church, 
as  if  he  commanded  us  to  do  too  much. 

If  the  world  were  not  mad  with  malice,  they  coiild 
never  be  fo  blind  in  this  point  as  they  are  :  to  think 
tliat  diligence  for  Chr'tji^  is  folly  and  fingularity:  and 
that  they  who  ftt  themfcl\'es  wholly  to  feek  eternal  life, 
nrc  but  precife  Puritans  !  The  time  is  near,  wlien  they 
will  eahly  confcfs,  that  God  could  not  be  loved  or 
ferved  too  much,  and  that  no  man  can  be  too  bufy  to 
fave  his  foul  :  for  the  world  you  may  cafily  do  too 
niiich,  but  herein   ^in  God's  \^'ay .  you  cannot, 

~io.  Confider,  they  that  trifle  in  tlie  way  to  heaven, 
iofe  all  their  labour.  If  two  be  running  in  a  race,  he 
that  runs  floweit,  had  as  good  never  run  at  all  :  for  he 
lofeth  the  prize,,and  his  labour  both.  Many,  who  like 
jignppa,  are  but  aimojl  clir'ijlians,  will  lind  in  the  end 
they  (hall  be  but  almoll  faved.  God  kath  fet  the  rate 
at  which  the  peail  rnufl  be  bought ;  if  you  bid  a  penny 
lefs,  you  had  as  good  bid  nothing.  As  a  man  that  is 
lifting  up  fome  weighty  thing,  if  he  put  to  almofi: 
ib'cngtli  enough,  it  is  as  good  he  put  to  none  at  all, 
for  he  doth  but  Iofe  all  hib  labour. 

O  hpvv  many  profeiTors  of  chriftlanity  will  find  this 
true  to  their  forrow,  who  have  had  a  mind  to  the  ways 
of  God,  and  have  kept  up  a  dull  tafl<  of  duty,  but  ne- 
vei  came  to  fcrlous  chriftianity  !  How  many  a  duty 
have  they  loft,  for  want  of  doing  t^em  throughly  i 
Many  Jhall  feeh  to  -^nhr  an.^  n  t  be  able  :  who,  if  they 
iha^  tliiven  mi^ht  have  bc^ntible,     O  therefore  pm  to 

9  little 


The  Saints  Everlajllng  Rcfl,     1-47 

a  little  more  diligence  and  (Iren^th,  that  all  be  not.in 
vain  that  you  have  done  already  ! 

11.  Furthermore,  wc  have  lofl  a  great  deal  oF  time 
already,  and  therefore  it  is  reafon  that  we  labour  fo 
much  tlie  harder.  If  a  traveller  flecp,  or  trifle  (Uit 
moll  of  the  day,  he  tnu^l  travel  fo  mucii  the  fallcr  in 
the  evt-ning,  or  fail  lliort  of  his  journey's  end.  With 
fome  of  us  our  childhood  and  youth  is  gone  ;  with 
fome  alfo  their  middle  age,  and  tiie  time  before  us  is 
very  uncertain.  What  a  deal  of  time  have  v.-tr  flept 
away,  and  talked  away,  and  played  away  ?  What  a 
deal  have  we  fpent  in  worldiy  thoughts  and  labours, 
or  in  mere  idlenefs  ?  Though  in  likelihood  the  mall 
of  our  time  is  fpent,  yet  how  little  of  our  work  is 
done  ?  And  is  it  not  time  to  beltir  ourfclves  in  the 
evening  of  our  days  ?  1  he  time  which  we  have  h;R: 
4:an  never  be  recalled  ;  (hould  wc  not  then  redeem  it 
by  Improving  the  little  which  remaineth  ?  You  may 
receive  indeed  2Ln  equil  recompen  e  ivUh  th  fe  that  have 
borne  ths  burden  and  heat  of  the  day^  thow^h  yon  came 
n^t  in  till  the  lijl  hour  ;  but  then  you  mu!l  be  furc  to 
labour  diligently  that  hour.  It  is  enougli  fure  that 
we  have  loll  fo  much  of  our  lives.  Let  us  not  now 
be  fo  foolifh  as  to  lofe  the  rell. 

12.  Conficler  the  greater  are  your  layings-out,  the 
greater  will  be  your  coralngs-in.  Though  you  may 
feem  to  lofe  your  labour  at  the  prefent,  yet  the  hour 
Cometh  when  you  fliall  find  it  with  advantage.  The 
feed  which  is  buried  and  dead,  will  bring  forth  a  plen- 
tiful increafe  at  the  haivelt.  Whatever  you  do,  and 
whatever  you  fuffer,  everlafting  reft  *vill  pay  for  all. 
There  is  no  repenting  of  labours  and  fufienngs  in. 
heaven  ;  none  fays,  *'  would  I  had  fpared  ray  pains 
"  and  prayed  lefs,  or  been  lefs  ftrid,  and  did  as  the 
**  red  of  my  neighbours  did  :"  there  is  never  fu.ch  a 
thought  in  heaven    as  thefe.     But  on  the'Contrary,  It 

will 


i 


14S     I'be  Saljits  Everlafting  Rejl, 

will  be  their  j'ly  to  Io(>k  hack  upon  their  labours,  and 
confjder  how  the  nriolity  power  of  God  did  Bring 
thtm  through  all.  Whoever  complained  that  he  came 
to  heaven  at  too  dear  a  rate  ;  or  that  his  falvation  colt 
liim  more  labour  than  it  was  worth  ?  We  may  fay  of 
all  our  laboLiry,  as  I'au]  of  his  fi'.ftetir.gs,  /  reckon  that 
the  fujfcrinos  1  and  labours)  of  this  prejent  iim?y  are  not 
luorthy  to  h:  cctnpare.I  iv'sth  the  gl^ry  th  :t  Jhall  be  reveal- 
ed. We  labour  but  for  a  moment,  but  we  fliall  reft 
for  ercr.  Who  would  not  put  forth  all  his  ftreugth 
for  one  hour,  when  he  may  be  a  prince  while  he  lives  ? 

Oh,  what  is  the  duty  and  fufferings  for  a  fliort  life, 
i.)  iLTpefk  of endlefs joys  with  Hod?  Will  not  all  cT 
tears  then  be  nvipsd  wziay  ^  and  all  the  forrows  of  our 
citilies  forgotten  ?  But  yet  the  Lord  will  not  forget 
tliem  :  for  hs  n  no:  unjuji,  i  a  forget  our  tvorh  and  labour 
cj  love. 

13.  ConHder,  violence  and  laborious  firiving  for 
falvaiion,  is  the  way  that  the  wifdom  of  God  hath 
(iirciled  us  to,  as  beft,  and  his  fovcreign  authority 
appointed  us  as  necefiary.  Who  knows  the  way  to 
heaven  better  than  the  God  of  heaven  ^  When  men 
ttU  us  t'aat  we  are  too  ftricl:,  whom  do  they  accufe, 
God,  or  us  ?  If  we  do  no  more  than  what  wc  are 
commanded,  nor  fo  much  neither  ;  they  may  as  well 
iay,  God  hath  made  laws  which  are  too  llridt.  Sure 
if  it  were  a  fault,  it  would  He  in  him  that  commands, 
jiiid  not  in  us  wIjo  obey.  And  dare  thefe  men  tliink 
that  ^hey  are  wifcr  than  God  ?  Do  they  know  better 
than  he,  what  men  mull  do  to  be  laved?  Tliefe  are 
the  men  that  afl:  us,  whether  we  are  wifer  than  all 
the  world  bcfides  ?  and  yet  they  will  pretend  to  he 
wikr  than  God.  What  do  they  lefs,  when  God  bids 
i!3  take  tiie  moll  diligent  courfe,  and  they  tell  us,  it 
is  more  ado  than  needs?  Mark  well  the  hmguage  of 
C>-OD,  and.^c  how  you  can  reconcile  it  with  tlie  lan- 
guage 


The  Saints  Everlajling  ReJI,     149 

-gunj^e  cf  the  world  :  The  hingdom  of  heaven  fujjtreth 
violencet  and  the  x'wleut  take  it  by  force.  Strive  to  en- 
Ur  in  at  the  Jirait  jraie  ;  for  many  fidl  feek  to  enter  la 
and  not  he  able.  IVhatfoever  the  hand  Jinddh  to  do,  do 
it  with  all  thy  might  ;  for  tl:>€re  is  no  luorh,  nor  device., 
nor  knonoU'dge^  or  ivifdom  in  the  gravf,  ivhither  thou 
goejl.  Work  out  your  falvation  ivith  fear  and  trembling., 
Give  diligence  to  make  y:ur  calling  and  ck^ion  fure.  If 
the  rlghte^ius  fcarctly  he  faved^  vjherejhallthe  ungodly  and 
Jinmr  appear  ? 

Tills  Is  the  condant  language  of  Chri/l :  and  which 
/hall  1  follow,  God  or  men  ;  yea,  and  that  the  v.'orik 
^nd  moft  wicked  men  ?  Shall  I  think  that  every  ig- 
r.orant  worldly  fot,  that  can  only  call  a  man  a  Puritan^ 
knows  more  than  Chr'd},  or  can  tell  God  how  to  mend 
the  fcnptiires  ?  Let  them  bring  all  the  feeming  reafoa 
they  can  again  ft  the  holy,  violent  ilriving  of  the  faints.; 
and  this  fufiiceth  me  to  confute  them  all,  that  God  is  of 
another  mind,  and  lie  hath  commanded  me  to  do  much 
more  than  I  do  :  and  though  I  could  fee  no  reafon  for 
it,  yet  his  will  is  reafon  enough  to  me  :  I  am  fure 
God  is  worthy  to  govern  us,  if  we  were  better  than 
we  are.  Who  fliould  make  laws  for  us,  but  he  that 
made  us  ?  And  who  fhould  mark  out  the  way  to 
•heaven,  but  he  that  mud  bring  us  thither  ?  And  who 
fhould  determine  on  what  conditions  we  fnall  be  faved, 
but  he  that  bellows  the  gift  of  falvaticn  ?  So  that  let 
the  world,  or  the  iiefh,  or  the  devil,  fpeak  againft  a 
holy  labonous  courfe,  this  is  my  aafwer,  God  hath 
commanded  it. 

14.  Moreover,  it  is  a  courfe  that  all  men  in  the 
world  either  do,  or  will  approve  of.  There  is  not 
a  man  that  ever  was,  or  is,  or  fhall  be,  but  fhall  one 
day  julllfy  the  diligence  of  the  faints.  And  who 
would  not  go  that  way,  which  every  man  fhall  ap- 
plaud ? 

N  2  it 


1^0    Ths  Saints  Everhi/l'in^  ^^J^- 

It  is  true,  it  is  now  a  rcny  every  luhsre  fpoken  ngn'mjf^ 
and  kited;  hnt   let  mc  tt'll   you,    i.    Moll  tlut   fpcak. 
anainfl  it,  in  tlieir  jiid[;mests  approve  of  It  ;  only  !>-- 
cuufe  the  practice  of  g(3fllincfs  is  agnlull  the  pleafures 
of  the  flt^i,  tlvcrcFore  do  they,  agaiwft  thtfr  own  judg- 
ments, r«.{i:l    it.     They  have  not  one  vvoidofreafon 
ag-ainft.    it,  b'Jt    reproaches  and  irJling   are   their  beft 
ai^iinitnts.      2.   Thofe    that  are  now  agaiufl  it,  whe- 
ther in  jjjgment  or  pafTjon,   will  (liort'y  be  of  another 
mind.      If  they    come  to  heaven,  their   mind   ^u^'^yitttf|| 
chan^L^ed  bjfore  they  come  there.      If  they  go  to  heflv^^B 
tiieir  judgm-jnt  will  then  be  altered,  whether  they  will   ^| 
or  no. 

If  you  could  fpeak  with  every  foul  tliat  fuffereth 
thofe  torments,  and  afi<,  whether  it  be  pofTible  to  be 
too  diligent  and  Rrious  in  feeking  f^lvatlon,  you  may 
eufily  conjedlure  whatanfwer  they  would  return.  Take 
tiie  mod  bitter  dcrider  or  perfecutor  of  godlinefs,  even 
tisofe  that  will  venture  their  lives  to  overthrow  it^ 
if  thofe  men  d^K^  not  flionly  vvilli  a  thoufand  times  that 
th'.v  h'ld  been  the  moll  holy,  diligent  chriflians  on 
earth,  then  let  me  bcai  the  fhamc  of  a  fa'.fe  prophet 
for  evci.  jl 

Remember  this,  you  that  will  be  of  the  opinion  and 
v.\-;y  that  moil  arc  of:  why  will  you  not  be  of  the 
opinion  then  that  all  v,- ill  be  ilionly  of?  Why  will 
you  be  of  a  judgment  which  you  are  fure  you  fhall  all 
Tnortly  change  ?  O  that  you  weie  but  as  wile  in  this, 
as  thufe  in  hell  ! 

15.  Confiuer,  They  that  have  been  the  moil  feri- 
ous,  p::ir,ful  clirillians,  when  they  come  to  die,  ex- 
ceedin<rl\  lament  their  negligence.  Thofe  that  have 
wholly  addicted  themfclves  to  the  work  of  God,  and 
have  midc  it  the  bu  inefs  of  their  lives,  and  have 
flighted  the  woild,  and  moriliied  the  f.elli;  and  have 

bceii 


The  Saints  Everlajlitig  Refl,     i^f 

been  the  wonders  of  the  world  for  t'n»:Ir  heavt-nly  con- 
verfations  ;  yet  when  confclence  is  deeply  awakened, 
how  do  their  failings  wound  thenn  ?  l.ven  thofe  that 
are  hated  and  derided  by  the  world  for  btincr  fo  ihii"i, 
2nd  are  thouglit  to  be  almoft  befide  thenifclves  for  their 
extraordinary  diligence  ;  yet  conimonly  when  thc-y  lie 
a  dying,  wifli,  O  th.at  they  had  been  a  thoufand  times 
more  holy,  more  heavenly,  more  laborious  for  their 
fouls  !  What  a  cafe  then  will  the  negligent  world  be 
in,  when  their  confciences  are  awakened,  v\hen  they 
lie  dying,  end  lock  behind  them  upon  a  ln:iy,  negli- 
gent life  ;  and  look  before  them  upon  a  fevere  and  ter- 
rible judgment  ?  What  an  edeem  will  they  have  of  a. 
holy  life  ?  For  my  own  part,  I  may  fay  as  ErafmuSy 
*'  They  accufe  m.e  ,fdr  doing  too  much,  but  my  own 
**  confcience  accufeth  me  fordoing  too  little,  and  be- 
*'  ing  too  Dow  ;  ,and  it  is  far  eafier  bearing  the  fcorns 
*'  of  the  world,  than  tl.e  fcourges  of  confcicncc."  The 
woild  fpeaks  at  a  dillancc  without  me,  fo  that  though 
I  hear  their  words,  I  can  choofe  whether  I  will  feel 
them  :  but  my  confclence  fpeaks  within,  at  the  very 
heart,  fo  that  every  check  doth  pierce  me  to  the  quick. 
Confcience,  when  it  reprehends  juUly,  is  the  melfen- 
ger  of  God  :  ungodly  revilcrs  arc  the  voice  of  the 
dtvil.  I  had  rather  be  reproached  by  thf  devil  for 
fceking  falvation,  than  reproved  of  God  for  neglecting 
i::  :  I  liad  rather  the  world  Ihould  call  me  Puritan  in  the 
devil's  name,  than  confcieriCe  fhould  call  me  loiterer 
in  God's  name.  As  God  and,£onfcience  are  more 
ufcful  friends  than  Satan  and  thV^^orld  j  fo  are  they 
moic  dreadful,  irrefulible  enemies.' 

And  thus,  reader,  I  have  Hiewed  thee  fuScient  rea* 
fon  againft  thy  fiothfulnefs  and  negligence,  if  thou  be 
rot  a  man  refolvcd  to  fhut  thine  eyes,  and  to  deRroy 
tliyfelf.  Yet,  left  all  this  fliould  not  prevail,  I  will 
add  fcmewuat  niore,  topeifuads  tb^^e  to  be  ferious  ia 
thy  endeavours  for  heuven. 

J.  Conllder^ 


1 


^ 


15.2    77?^  Saints  Everlajiing  Refi. 

I.  Confider,  God  is  in  good  earneft  with  yon  ;  and 
why  then  flit)uld  you  not  be  fo  with  him  ?  In  his  com- 
mands, he  means  as  he  fpeaks,  and  will  verily  require 
your  real  obedience.  In  his  threatenings  he  is  ftrious, 
and  will  make  them  all  good  againd  the  rebellious. 
In  his  promifes  he  is  ferioas,  and  will  fulfil  them  to 
tlic  obedient,  even  to  the  leaft  tittle-  In  his  judg- 
ments he  is  ferious,  as  he  will  make  his  enemies  know 
to  theit  terror.  Was  not  God  in  good  earnell  when 
Jie  drowned  the  world,  when  be  confnmed  Sodom  and 
.  Gom'.rrah.  v^'hen  he  fcattered  the  Jews  ?  And  very 
ihortly  will  lay  hold  on  his  enemies,  particularly  man. 
by  man,  and  make  them  know  that  he  is  in  good 
earned  ;  efpccially  vviien  it  comes  to  the  great  reckon- 
ing day.  And  is  it  time  then  for  us  to  dally  with 
God.? 

2.  Jesus  Christ  was  ferions  in  purchafing  our 
redemption.  He  was  ftrious  in  teaching,  ivhen  he  ne- 
glidi'd  his  meat  and  drink,  John  iv.  32.  He  was  ferious 
in  pr^y'iug,  tvhcn  he coniinurd a// nighi  at  it.  He  was  fe- 
rious in  doing  good^ivhen  his  kindred  came  and  laid  hands 
on  /""w,  thinking  he  had  been  htjide  himjelf.  He  was  ferious 
in  fuftering,  when  he  fajled  forty  days,  ivas  tempted, 
bet  rayed y  J  pi'  on^  buffeted,  croivned  nvith  thorns,  fiveat 
blood,  -was  cruc'ifled, pierced,  died.  There  was  no  jefting 
in  all  this  :  and  fhould  v/e  not  be  ferious  in  feeking' 
our  own  falvation  ? 

3.  The  Holy  Ghcft  is  ferious  In  foliciting  us  for 
our  happincfs  ;  his  motions  are  frequent  and  preffing, 
Tjind  importunate:  he  ftrivith  with  our  hearts.  He 
is  grieved  when  we  refill  him  ;  and  fliould  not  we  then 
be  ferious  in  obeying  his  motions,  and  yielding  to  Us 
fuit  \ 

4.  How  ferious  and  diligent  are  all  th''  creatP-res 
£n  their  fervicc  to  ihee  ?  What  hade  maktc  i.-a.  .   n  to 

•compali^ 


The  S  dints  Ever  la/ling  Refc,     153 

compafs  the  world  ?  And  how  truly  doth  ft. return  at 
ifs  appointed  hour  ?  So  do  the  moon  and  other  planets. 
The  fprlngs  are  always  flowing  for  thy  ufe  ;  the  rivers 
dill  running;  the  fpring  and  harveft  keep  their  times. 
How  hard  doth  thy  ox  labour  for  thee  fiom  day  to 
day  ?  How  pninfuiiy  and  fpccdilydoth  thy  horfe  bear 
thee  in  travel  ?  -ind  fhall  all  Miefe  be  laborious,  and 
thou  only  negligent  ?  8[i:ill  they  all  be  fo  feiious  in 
fervinpr  thee,  and  yet  thou  be  fo  flight  in  thy  feivice 
to  God  ? 

5.  Confider,  the  fervants  of  the  world  and  the  de- 
vil are  ferious  and  diligent ;  they  ply  their  work  con- 
tinually, as  if  they  could  never  do  enough  :  they  make 
hade,  and  march  futioufly,  as  if  they  were  afraid  of 
coming  to  hell  too  late  :  they  bear  down  mlnii^crs,  and 
fermons,  and  counfel  and  all  before  thtm.  .And  fiiall 
they  do  more  for  the  devil,  than  thou  wilt  do  for 
God  ?  Or  be  more  diligent  for  damnation,  than  thoa 
wilt  be  for  falvation  ?  Hall  not  thou  a  bettei  martcr  ? 
and  fwecter  employment  \  and  fweeter  encouragcaiciit 
and  a  better  reward  ? 

6.  There  isnojefiing  in  heaven,  rov  In  hell.  The 
faints  have  a  real  happinefs,  and  the  damned  a  veal 
mifery  ;  the  faints  are  ferious  and  high  intlieirjoy 
and  praife  ;  and  the  damned  are  ferious  and  deep  in 
their  forrow  and  complaints.  There  are  no  remifs 
or  (leepy  praifes  in  heaven  ;  nor  any  remlfs  or  fleepy 
lamentations  in  hell  :  all  men  there,  are  in  good 
carncll.  And  fliould  we  not  then  be  ferious  now?  I 
dare  promife  thee,  the  thoughts  of  thefe  things  will 
fliortly  be  ferious  thoughts  with  thyftlf.  When  thou 
corned  to  death  or  judgment,  O  what  deep  heart  pier- 
cing thoughts  wilt  tiiou  have  of  eternity  !  Methinks 
I  forefee  thee  already  aftonidied,  to  think  how  thou 
couldil  pofiibly  make  fo  light  of  thefe  things  !  Me- 
thinks I  even  hear  lliee  crying  out  of  thy  ft upidity 
and  madp.efd !  ^Axid 


154    ^^'^  Saints  Everlafang  Rejl. 

^nd  now  havinpr  laid  thee  down  thefe  undeniable 
aro^umentf,  1  <!o  In  the  name  of  God  demand  thy  re- 
f(  i'jtlon  :  What  fayell  thou  ?  Wilt  thou  yield  obedi- 
ence or  not  ?  I  am  confident  tliy  confcience  is  con- 
vinced of  thy  duty.  Darell  thou  now  go  on  in  thy 
common  carelefs  courfe,  againil  the  plain  evidence  of 
reafon  and  commands  of  God,  and  againd  the  light 
of  thy  own  confcience  ?  Darell  thou  live  as  loofely, 
«;nd  fin  as  boldly,  a:id  pray  as  feldom,  and  as  coldly 
as  before  ?  Dareft  thou  now  as  carnally  fpend  the  fab- 
bath,  and  {lumber  over  the  fervlce  of  God  as  flight-^ 
]y,  and  think  of  thine  evevlafiing  ftate  as  carelefsly  ss 
btforc  ?  Or  doft  tliou  not  rather  r--^")  ve  to  gird  up  the 
loins  of  thy  mind,  and  to  fct  thyfclf  wholly  about  the 
work  of  thy  falvation  ;  and  to  do  it  with  all  thy 
might  ;  and  to  break  over  all  the  oppofitlons  of  the 
world,  and  to  flight  all  their  fcorns  and  perfecutlons  ; 
io  cn/I  iff"  the  'weight  that  hangeth  on  thee  ;  and  the  Jin 
that  do-h  Jo  eafily  befet  ihse  ;  and  to  run  iv'tth  patience  and 
fpeed  the  race  that  IS  Jet  before  thee  ?  I  hope  thefe  are 
ihy  full  refolutions :  if  thou  art  well  in  thy  vt its,  I 
am  fure  they  are. 

Yel  becaufe  I  know  the  Urangc  obflinacy  of  the 
heart  of  man,  and  becaufe  I  would  fain  leave  thefe 
peifuafions  faftcned  in  thy  heart,  that  fo,  if  it  be  pof- 
fible,  thou  mighted  be  awakened  to  thy  dsity,  and  thy 
foul  might  live  :  I  fliall  proceed  with  thee  yet  a  little 
further.:  and  I  once  more  entreat  thee  to  illr  up  thy 
attention,  and  go  along  with  me  in  the  free  and  fober 
ufc  of  thy  reafon,  while  1  propound  thefe  following 
qucllions  :  and  I  command  thee  from  God,  that  tho.u 
lefid  notxronviftion,  but  anfvvcr  them  faithfully,  and 
.obey  accordingly. 

I.  ^tef}  If  you  could  grow  rich  by  religion,  ©r 
^et  lands  and  lordOiIps  thereby;  or  if  you  could  get 
jionour  or  preferment  by  it  in  che  world  ;  or  could  be 

recovered 


AjA 


The  Saints  Everlajling  Rcfl.     155 

recoirered  from  ficknefs  by  It,  or  could  live  for  ever 
in  profperlty  on  earth  ;  what  kind  of  h'ves  would  yoa 
then  lead,  and  what  pains  would  you  take  \n  the  fer- 
vrce  of  God  ?  And  is  not  the  Rell  of  the  faints  a 
more  excellent  happinefs  than  all  thij  \ 

2.  ^lejl'  If  the  law  of  the  land  did  punlfh  every 
breach  of  the  fabbath,  or  every  oniiifion  of  family- 
duties,  or  fecret  duties,  or  every  cold  and  heardcfs 
prayer,  with  death  :  if  it  were  felony  or  treafon  to  be 
negligent  in  worfhip,  and  loofe  in  your  lives  ;  what 
manner  of  pevfons  would  you  then  bt  ?  and  what  lives 
would  "you  lead?  /^ndis  not  eternril  death  more  tcr- 
lible  than  temporal  ? 

3.  ^tejl-  If  it  were  God's  ordinary  courfe  to  pu- 
rilli  every  fin  with  fome  prefcnt  judgment,  fo  thai: 
every  time  a  man  fvvears,  or  is  drunk,  or  fpeaks  a  Ire, 
or  backbiteth  his  neighbour,  he  Hioiild  be  llruck  dead 
or  blind,  or  lame,  in  the  place:  if  God  did  puniili 
every  cold  prayer,  or  negleA  of  duty  with  fome  re- 
maikabhj  plague  ;  what  manner  of  perfons  would  you 
be  I  if  you  fliould  fuddenly  fall  dijwn  dead  like  Ana- 
mas  and  Sapphira  with  the  fin  In  your  hands  ;  or  the 
plague  of  God  (hould  feize  upon  you  as  upon  the 
Ij'raeliteSi  while  their  fweet  morfels  were  yet  In  their 
mouths  :  If  but  a  m^rk  fhould  be  fet  In  the  forehead 
of  every  one  th-at  neglected  a  duty,  or  committed  a 
fin  ;  what  kind  of  lives  would  you  then  lead  ?  And  Is 
not  eternal  wrath  more  terrible  than  all  this  ? 

4.  ^ejl.  If  you  had  feen  the  general  diffolutlon  of 
the  vvoiid.  and  all  the  pomp  and  glory  of  it  confum- 
ed  to  afhes  ;  if  you  faw  all  on  fire  about  you,  fump- 
tuiuis  buildings,  cities,  kingdoms,  land,  water,  earth,* 
heaven,  all  flaming  about  your  ears  :  if  you  had  feeu 
all  that  men  laboured  for,  and  fold  their  fouls  for, 
gone  J  friends  gone  j  the  plage  of  your  former  abode 

goaej 


^ 


156    The  Saints  Kverlafiing  Rejl. 

gone  ;  the  hiftory  ended,  and  all  come  down  ;  what 
would  fuch  a  fight  as  this  perfuade  yi)U  to  do  ?  Why, 
fuch  a  fiyht  thou  fhalt  certainly  fee.  I  put  my  quc- 
flion  to  thee  in  the  words  of  tlic  apoftle,  2  l^tt.  iil. 
Steing  all  thefe  things  floall  be  djJpAved^  tuhat  manner  of 
pcrjons  ought  you  to  he  in  all  ho'y  cos.'verfation  and  gcdli- 
ne,Sf  looking  for,  and  hajiing  unto  the  coming  of  the  day 
of  Gody  'Tvherein  the  heavens  being  on  Jire  Jb>dl  he  dif- 
folvedi  and  the  elements  Jhall  mtlt  ivilh  fervent  heat  ? 
As  if  he  fl^oukl  fay,  we  cannot  pofhbly  conceive  or 
cxprefs  what  manner  of  perfons  we  fhould  be  in  all 
hoHnefs  and  godlincfs,  when  we  do  but  think  of  the 
fuddrn,  and  certain,  and  terrible  difiolution  of  all 
things  below. 

5.  ^i''fl'  What  if  you  had  feen  the  procefs  of  the 
judgment  of  the  great  day  ?  If  you  had  feen  the  judg-  ■ 
mtiit  ftt,  and  the  books  opened,  and  the  mofl:  (land 
trembling  on  the  left  hand  of  the  judge,  and  Chrifl  ' 
himfclfaccuhng  them  of  their  rebellions  and  negle6ls, 
and  remembering  them  of  all  their  former  {lightings  of 
his  grace,  and  at  lall  condemning  them  to  perpetual 
perdition  ?  If  ytui  had  feen  the  godly  (landing  on  the 
right  hand,  and  ^efus  Chr'fl  acknowledging  their  faith- 
ful obedience,  and  adjudging  them  to  the  poffeflion  of 
the  joy  of  their  Lord  ?  What  mxanner  of  perfons  would 
you  have  been  after  fuch  a  fight  as  this  ?  Why,  this 
fight  thou  (halt  one  day  fee,  as  fure  as  thou  lived. 
And  why  then  fliould  not  the  forekuovvkdge  of  fuch  a. 
day  awake  thee  to  thy  duty  ? 

6.  ^lefl'  What  if  you  had  once  feen  hell  open, 
and  all  the  damned  there  in  their  ceafelefs  torments, 
and  had  heard  them  crying  out  of  their  flothfulnefs 
in  the  day  of  their  vifitation,  and  wilhing  that  they 
Tad  but  another  life  to  live,  and  that  God  would  but 
try  ihem  once  again  ?  one  crying  out  of  his  neglcCii 
of  duty^  and    another  of  his  loitering    and    trifling, 

when 


The  Saints  EverlajTmg  Rejl,     157 

when  he  (hould  have  been  labouring  for  his  life  ?  Wliat 
manner  of  perfons  would  you  have  been  after  fuch  u 
fight  as  this?  What  if  you  had  fcen  heaven  opened, 
as  Stephen  did,  and  all  the  faints  there  triump'uiug  in 
gloty,  and  enjoying-  the  end  of  their  labours  and  fuf- 
ferings  ?  What  a  life  would  you  lead  after  fuch  afiglit 
as  this  ?  Why,  you  will  fee  this  with  your  eyes  betoro 
it  belong. 

7.  ^lejl.  What  if  you  had  lain  In  hell  hut  one  year, 
or  one  day,  or  hour,  and  there  felt  thofe  torments  that 
now  you  do  but  hear  of  ?  and  God  (liould  turn  you 
into  the  woild  again,  and  try  you  with  another  life- 
time, and  fay,  I  will  fee  whether  thou  wilt  be  yet  any 
better  ;  what  manner  of  perfons  v/ould  you  be  ?  Il  yuu 
were  to  live  a  thoufand  years,  would  you  not  gladly 
live  as  ftridly  as  the  precifell  faints,  and  fpend  all  tliof^v. 
years  in  prayer  and  duty,  fo  you  might  but  efcape  the' 
"torment  which  you  fuffered  ?  how  lerioully  then  would 
you  fpeak  of  hell  !  and  pray  againft  it !  And  hear,  and 
read,  and  watch,  and  obey  !  ¥Low  earnellly  would  yoii 
admonifli  the  carelefs  to  take  l>eed,  and  look  about 
them  to  prevent  their  luin  !  And  will  not  you  take 
God's  word  for  the  truth  of  this,  except  you  feel  it  ? 
Is  it  not  your  wildom  to  do  as  much  now  to  prevent  it, 
as  y6u  would  do  to  remove  it  when  it  is  too  late  ?  Is  it 
not  more  wifdom  to  fpend  this  life  in  labouring  for 
heaven,  while  ye  have  it,  than  to  lie  in  torment,  wilh- 
mg  for  more  time  in  vain  ? 

And  thus  I  have  faid  enough,  if  not  to  ftir  up  the 
lazy  fmner  to  a  ferious  working  out  his  f^lvation,  yet 
at  lead  to  fjience  him,  and  leave  him  iuexcufable  at  the 
judgment  of  God.  If  thou  canft,  after  reading  all 
this,  go  on  in  the  fame  negle6t  of  God,  and  thy  foul, 
and  draw  out  the  reil  of  thy  life  in  the  fame  dull  and 
carelefs  courfe,  as  thou  had  hitherto  done  ;  and  if  thou 
haft  fo  far  ftupified  thy  confcience,  that  it  will  quietly 
O  fufTcr 


158    The  Saints  Everlajiing  Rejl. 

fufFcr  thee  to  forget  all  this,  and  to  trifle  out  the  reft 
of  thy  time  in  the  bufinefs  of  the  world,  when    in  the 
mean  while  thy  falvation  is  in  danger,  and  the  judge 
is  at  the  door  ;  I  have  then  no  more  to  fay  to  thee  :  it 
is  as  good  to  fpeak  to  a  rock.     Only  as  we  do  by  our 
friends  when  they  are  dead  ;  and  our  words  and  adli- 
ons  can  do  them  no  good,  yet  to  teftify  our  affeftions 
we  weep  and    mourn   for  them  :  fo  will  I  alfo  do  for 
thefe  fouls.   It  makes  my  heart  even    tremble  to  think, 
how  they  will  fland  trembling  before  the  Loid  !    And 
how    confounded   and  fpeechlefs  they   will  be,  when 
Chriil  (hall  re?fon  with    them  concerning  their  negli- 
.  gence  and  floth  !   When  he  fhall  fay,  as  the  Lord  doth 
in  Jcr.  ii.  5.9.  ir.  15.    What  iniquity  have  your  fathers 
(or  you)  found  in  me,  that  ye  are  gone  far  from  me,  end 
have  ivalked  after  vanity?  Did  1  ever   wrong  you,  or 
do  you   any  harm,  or   ever  difcourage   you  from  fol- 
lowing  my   fervice  ?  Was    my  way   fo   bad  that  you 
could    not    endure    it  ?    or   my  fervice  fo  bafe    that 
you  could  not  ftoop   to  it  ?  Did  1  ftoop   to  the  fulfil- 
ing  of    the  law    for    you,  and  could  not    you  Hoop 
to    fulfil    the   eafy    conditions   of   my   gofpcl  ?    Was 
the  world  or  Satan  a  better  fiiend  to  you  than  I?  Or 
had  they   done  for  you   more    than  I  had  done  ?  Tiy 
now  whether  they  will  fave  you,  or  whether  they  will 
rtcompenfe  you  for  the  lofs  of  heaven  ;  or  whether  they 
will  be  as  good  to  you  as  I  would  have  been.   O  !  what 
will  the  wretched  finner  anfwer  to  any  of  this  !      But 
thougli  man  will   not   hear,  yet  we  may  have  hope  In 
fpeaking  to  God — Lord,   fmite  thefe  rocks  till    they 
gufli  forth  waters:   though  thefe  ears  arc  deaf,   fay  to 
them,  Ephphatha^  be  opened  :   though  thefe  fjnners  be 
dead,  let  that  power  fpeak,  which  fometime  faid,  La- 
zarus arifi!  We    know  they  will  be  awakened  at  the 
laft  rcfurreftion  ;  O,  but  then  it  will  be  only  to  their 
fonovv  !    O,  thou  that  didft  weep  aiu  groan  over  dead 
I^a-^aruiy  pity  thefe  fad  and  fenfcl-fs  fouls,  till  they  ave 
able  to  weep  and  groan  for,  aiid^ity  theoifcives.      ^^s 

thou 


The  Saints  Enjerlajling  ReJ, 


Yet  I  will  add  a  few  more  words  to  good  men  in  par- 
ticular, to  iliew  t!iem  why  they  above  all  men  fhould 
be  laborious  for  heaven  ;  and  that  there  is  a  grea  deal 
of  reafon,  that  though  all  the  world  fit  ilill.  yet  they 
fiiould  abhor  that  lazinefs  and  negligence,  and  lay  out 
all  their  ftrength  on  the  work,  of  God.  To  this  end, 
I  ddire  them  alfo  to  anfwer  foberly  to  thefe  few  quef- 
tions. 

1.  %f/?.  What  manner  of  perfors  fliould  thofebe» 
who  have  felt  the  fmart  of  their  negligence,  in  the  new 
birth,  in  their  feveral  wounds  and  trouble  of  confci- 
ence,  in  their  doubts  and  fears,  in  their  various  af?»ic- 
tions  :  they  that  have  groaned  and  cried  out  fo  oft,  un- 
der the  fenfe  and  efFe6^s  of  their  negh'gence,  and  aie 
like  enou/h  to  feel  it  a^fain,  if  they  do  not  reform  it  ? 
Sure  one  would  think  they  fhould  be  flottiful  no  more. 

2.  ^i^j?'  What  manner  of  perfons  (hould  thofe  be 
who  have  bound  themfelves  to  God  by  fo  many  cove- 
rants  aa  we  have  done,  and  in  fp^-cial  have  covenanted 
fo  oft  to  be  more  painful  and  faitiiful  in  hi-  fervite  ? 
At  every  facrament  ;  on  many  days  of  humiliation  and 
thankfgiving  ;  in  mod  of  our  deep  diltieffes  and  dan- 
gerous iicknefTes  :  we  are  Illll  ready  to  bewail  oar  ne- 
gleds,  and  to  engage  ourlelves,  if  God  will  but  try  us 
and  truft  us  once  again,  how  diligent  and  laborious  we 
will  be,  and  how  we  will  improve  our  time,  and  re- 
prove offenders,  and  watch  over  ourfelves,  and  ply  our 
work  ;  and  do  him  more  feivice  in  a  day  than  we  did 
in  a  mouth  ?  The  Lord  pardon  our  perfidious  cove- 
nant 


1 60     The  Saints  EvcrLijling  Rejl, 

nnnt-brf?.king  ;  and  grant  tliat  our  engagements  may 
not  condemn  us. 

?>'  ^!{fl-  What  manner  of  men  fhould  they  be  in 
duly,  who  have  received  fo  much  encouragement,  as 
we  have  done  ?  Who  have  tailed  fuch  fweetnefs  in  di- 
ligent obedience,  as  doth  much  more  than  counteivail 
Jill  the  jiains  ;  who  liave  fo  oft  had  experience  of  the 
wide  difference  between  lazy  and  laborious  duty,  by 
their  diitVrent  iffues  ;  who  liave  found  all  our  lazy  du- 
ties ui. fruitful  ;  and  all  our  iliivings  and  wrctUings 
with  God  fucccfbful,  fo  that  we  were  never  impor- 
tunate with  God  in  vain  ?  We  who  have  had  fo  ma- 
ny deliverances  upon  urgent  feeking  ;  and  have  re- 
ceived almoil  all  our  folid  comforts  in  a  way  of  clofe 
i;nd  conftanr  r^;;|.Y  :  how  fhould  we  above  all  men  ply 
our  work  ? 

4.  ^iej.  What  manner  of  perfons  fhould  they  be 
ill  holiuefs,  who  have  fo  much  of  the  great  work  yet 
undone  i*  So  many  fins  in  fo  great  ilrength  ;  graces 
'vciJi,  fan6tification  imperfeft,  corruption  ft  ill  work- 
ing and  taking  advantage  of  all  our  omiffion  ?  When 
wc  are  as  a  boat- man  on  the  water  ;  let  him  row  ne- 
ver fo  hard  a  month  together,  yet  if  he  do  but  flack 
}rls  hand,  and  think  to  eafe  himfelf,  his  boat  goes 
farter  down  the  ftream  than  before  it  went  up  :  fo  do 
our  fouls,  when  we  think  to  eafe  ourfclves  by  abating 
our  pains  in  duty.  Our  time  is  fhort :  our  enemies 
ir.ighcy  :  our  hinderances  many  :  God  feems  yet  at  a 
illffance  from  many  of  us  :  our  thoughts  of  him  are 
dull  and  unbelieving  :  our  acquaintance  and  commu- 
nion with  Chrirt,  is  fmall,  und  our  defires  to  be  with 
him  are  as  fmall,  and  fhould  men  in  our  cafe  fland 
it  ill? 

5.  ^eji.  Ladly,  wliat  manner  of  perfons  fhould 
they  be,  on  whom   the  glory  of  the  great  God  doth 


The  Saints  Everlajling  Reji.    i6l 

fo  much  depend  ?  Men  will  judge  of  the  father  by  the 
children,  and  of  the  mafler  by  the  fervants.  We  bear 
his  image,  and  therefore  men  vviil  meafnre  him  by 
his  reprefentation.  He  is  no  where  in  the  world  fo 
lively  reprefented,  as  in  liis  faints  :  and  fhall  they  fet 
him  forth  as  a  pattern  of  idlenefs  ?  All  the  world  is 
not  capable  of  honouring  or  diflionouring  God  fo  much 
as  we  :  and  the  lead  of  his  honour  is  of  more  worth 
than  all  our  lives.  Seeing  then  that  all  thefe  things 
are  fo,  I  charge  thee  that  art  a  chrillian,  in  my  mailer's 
name,  to  confider,  and  refolve  the  queftion,  What 
manner  of  pe'- fans  ou^ht  lue  to  be  in  all  holy  converfalion 
and godlinefs  P  And  let  thy  life  anfwer  the  quellion  as 
well  as  thy  tongue. 

I  have  been  larger  upon  this  ufe,  partly  becaufe  of 
the  general  negleil  of  heaven,  that  all  forts  are  guilty 
of;  partly  becaufe  men's  falvation  depends  upon  their 
.prefcnt  llriving  and  feeking  ;  partly  becaufe  the  doc- 
trine of  free  grace  mifunderftood,  is  lately  fo  abufed, 
to  the  cheriining  of  fioth  and  fecurity  ;  partly  becaufe 
many  eminent  men  of  late  do  judge,  that  to  work  or 
labour  for  life  and  falvation  is  mercenary,  legal  and 
dangerous  ;  which  dodlrine  (as  1  have  faid  before) 
were  it  by  the  owners  reduced  into  pra6lice,  would 
■imdoubt'rdly  damn  them  ;  becafife  they  that  feek  not* 
fliail  not  find  ;  and  they  that  Ibive  not  to  enter,  fiiall 
be  ihut  out;  and  they  that  labour  not,  fhall  not  be 
crowned  ;  and  partly  becaufe  it  is  groum  the  cuftom, 
inftead  of  ftriving  for  the  kingdom,  and  contending 
for  the  faith,,  to  ftrive  with  each  other  about  uncer- 
tain controverfies,  and  to  contend  about  the  circum- 
ftantlals  of  faith  :  wherein  the  kingdom  of  God 
doth  no  more  confift  than  in  meats  or  drinks,  or  ge- 
Mcalogics.  Sirs,  fhall  we  who  are  brethren  fall  out  by 
the  way  home,  and  fpend  fo  much  of  our  time  about 
the  fmaller  matters  which  thoiifands  have  been  faved 
without,  but  never  any  one  faved  by  them,  while 
O  2.  ChriO; 


1 62       The  Saints  Enjcrlajilug  Rejl. 

Chvift  and  our  eternal  reft  are  almoft  forgotten  ?  Tlie 
Lord  pardon  and  lieal  the  folly  of  his  people  1 

C  H  A  P.     VIL 

The  Third  life.  Perfuading  all  Men  to  try 
their  Title  to  this  Reft  ;  and  direding  them 
how  to  try^  that  they  may  know. 

I 

I  NOW  proceed  to  the  third  life  ;  and  becaiife  it  is 
of  very  great  importance,   I  entreat  thee  to  weigli 
it  the  more  feriouHy. 

Is  there  fiich  a  glorious  reft  fo  near  at  hand  ?  And 
fhall  none  enjoy  it  but  the  people  of  God  ?  What 
mean  the  molt  of  the  world  then,  to  live  fo  contented- 
ly without  the  afTurar.ce  of  their  intereft  in  this  reft  ? 
And  to  negleft  the  tiying  of  their  title  to  it,  when 
the  Lord  hath  fo  fully  opened  the  bleflednefs  of  that 
l:inodom,  which  rone  but  obedient  bJievcrs  (hall 
poffcfs,  and  {o  fully  cxpreft  thofe  toiments  which  all 
the  reft  of  the  world  muft  eternally  fuffer  ?  A  man 
would  think  now,  that  they  vho  believe  this  ftiould 
never  be  at  any  quiet  till  they  were  heirs  of  the  king- 
dom. Moil  men  fay  they  believe  this  word  of  God 
to  be  true  :  how  then  can  they  fit  ftill  In  fuch  an  utter 
uncertainty,  whether  ever  they  fhall  live  in  reft  or  not  ? 
Lord  vvluit  a  wonderful  madnefs  is  this,  that  men 
who  know  they  muft  prcfenlly  enter  upon  unchangea- 
ble joy  or  pain,  fliould  yet  live  as  uncertain  what 
ihali  be  their  doom,  as  if  they  had  never  heard  of 
any  fuch  ftate  :  yea,  and  live  as  quietly,  and  as  m.trri- 
ly  in  this  uncertainty,  as  if  nothing  ailed  them,  and 
there  were  no  danger  ! 

Arc 


The  Sahits  Everlafting  Reft.     163 

Arc  thefe  men  alive  or  dead  ?  Are  they  waking  o» 
afleep  ?  What  do  they  think  on  ?  Where  are  tlieit 
hearts  ?  If  they  have  but  a  weighty  fuit  at  law,  how 
careful  are  they  to  know  whether  it  will  go  for  them, 
or  againit  them  ?  If  they  were  to  be  tried  foi  their 
lives,  how  careful  would  they  be  to  know  whetlier 
thi^y  fliould  be  faved  or  condemned,  tfpecially.  if  theiu 
care  might  An  tly  fave  them  ?  li  they  be  dangeroufly 
fick;  they  will  enquire  of  the  phyhcian  ;  what  think 
you  fir,  fhall  I  efcape  or  no  ?  But  for  the  bufinefs  of 
their  falvation,  they  are  content  to  be  uncertain.  If 
you  an<  mod:  men  a  reafon  of  their  hopes  to  be  faved^ 
they  will  fay  it  is  bccaufe  God  is  merciful,  and  Chrift 
died  for  finners,  and  the  like  general  reaforis,  which 
any  man  in  the  world  may  give  as  well  as  they  ;  but 
put  them  to  prove  their  intereil  in  Chrift,  and  the  fav- 
ing  mercy  of  God,  and  they  can  fay  nothing  at  all  i 
at  leall  nothing  out  of  their  hearts  and  experience. 

if  God  ihould  aflv  thenv  for  their  fouls,  as  he  did 
Cam  for  his  brother  Ahc\  they  could  return  but  fuch 
an  anfwer  as  he  did.  If  God  or  man  fiiouid  fay  to 
them,  what  cafe  is  thy  foul  in  man  ?  Is  it  regene- 
rated, and  pardoned  or  no  ?  Is  it  in  a  (late  of  life,  or 
a  ftate  of  death  ?  He  would  be  ready  to  fay,  I  know, 
not,  am  1  my  foul's  keeper.  I  hope  well,  I  trufl 
God  with  my  foul,  I  fnall  fpecd  as  well  as  other  men 
CO,  I  thank  God  I  never  made  any  doubt  of  ray  faU 
vat  ion.  Thou  haft  the  more  caufe  to  doubt  a  great 
deal,  becanfe  thou  never  didll  doubt ;  and  yet  more 
becaufe  thou  hall  been  fo  carekfs  in  thy  confidence. 
What  do  thefe  exprefTions  difcover,  but  a  wilful  negledl 
of  thy  own  falvation  ?  As  a  fhip-mader  that  fiiould 
let  his  veffd  alone,  and  fay,  1  will  venture  it  among 
the  rocks,  and  the  waves,  and  winds  ;  I  willtrufi  God 
with  it  ;  it  will  fpeed  as  well  as  other  veffelsdo.  In- 
deed as  well  as  other  men's  that  are  as  caielefs  and  idle, 
•but  cot  fo  wtll  ii3  other   men's  that  arc  diligent  ani 

W^lvhUlI; 


s  64     The  Saints  Everlajling  Rtjt. 

watchful.  What  horribic  ?bufe  of  God  \%  this,  for 
men  to  pretend  they  trufl  God,  to  cloak  their  own 
wilful  negligence  !  If  thou  didft  truly  truft  God,  thou 
wouldlt  alfo  be  ruled  by  him,  and  truft  him  in  that 
way  which  he  hath  appointed  thee.  He  requires  thee 
to  gnx-  ail  dUigejue  io  make  thy  calling  and  ele^ion  Jure, 
and  fo  tt)  truft  him,  2  Peler  i.  10.  He  hath  marked 
thee  out  a  v.ay  by  which  thou  mayft  come  to  be  fure  j 
and  charged  thee  to  fcarch  and  try  thyfelf,  till  thou 
certainly  know.  Wert  he  not  a  foolifti  traveller,  that 
would  go  on  when  he  doth  not  know  whether  it  be 
right  or  wrong  ;  and  fay,  I  hope  I  am  right  ;  I  will 
go  on  and  truft  God?  Art  not  thou  guilty  of  this 
folly  in  thy  travelt^  to  eternity  ?  Not  Conlidering  that 
a  little  ferious  enquiry  whether  the  way  be  right,, 
might  fave  thee  a  great  deal  of  labour  which  thou  be- 
lloweft  in  vain,  and  muft  undo  again,  or  elfe  thou 
wilt  mifrf  of  falvation,  and  undo  tiiyfelf.  Did  I  not 
know  what  a  defperate,  blind,  carnal  heart  is,  I 
ftiould  wonder  how  thou  doft  to  keep  off  continual 
terrors  from  thy  heart:  and  efpecially  in  thefe  cafes- 
folio  wing  : 

1.  I  wonder  how  thou  canft  either  think  or-  fpeak 
of  the  dreadful  God  without  exceeding  terror  and 
aftonilhment,  as  long  as  thou  art  uncertain  whether  he 
be  thy  father  or  thy  enemy,  and  knoiveft  not  but  ali- 
bis attributes  may  be   employed  againft  thee.      If  hi& 

faints  muji  rtjoice  before  him  nviih  tremblings  and f yva 
htm  tu'xih  fear  :  If  they  that  are  fure  to  receive  the  im- 
jnovable  kingdom,  muft  yet  ferve  Gi>d  'w'lth  reve^ 
rence  and  god  y  fear^  becaufe  he  is  a  confutningfrc  :  how 
terrible  IhouM  the  remembrance  of  him  be  to  them 
that  know  not  but  this  lire  may  for  ev^r  confuine- 
them  ? 

2.  How  doft  thou  think  without  trenbilngv  upon 
Jefus    Chrift  ?    when    thou   Jknowell    not    whether 


The  Saints  Ever  I  a/ling  Reft.     165 

liis  blood  hath  purged  thy  foul,  or  not  ?  And  whether 
lie  will  condemn  thee,  or  acquit  thee  in  judgment  ; 
nor  whether  he  be  the  cornei-done  and  foundation  of 
thy  happinefs,  or  a  ftone  of  ilun:ibhng  to  break  thee, 
and  grind  thee  to  powder  ? 

3.  riow  canflthou  open  the  bible  and  read  a  chap- 
ter, or  hear  a  chapter  read  but  it  fhould  terrify  thee  ? 
Methinks  every  leaf  fliould  be  to  thee  as  Be'/ba%%ar^s 
writing  on  the  wall,  except  only  that  which  draws 
thee  to  try  and  reform  :  if  thou  read  the  promifes, 
thou  knoweft  not  whether  ever  they  (hall  be  fulfilled 
to  thee,  becaufe  thou  art  uncertain  of  thy  perform- 
ance of  the  condition.  If  thou  read  the  threatenings, 
for  any  thing  thou  knoweft,  thou  doll  read  thy  own 
ft  ntence.  1  do  not  wonder  if  thou  art  an  enemy  to 
plain  preacliing,  and  if  thou  fay  of  it,  and  of  the 
miniltor  and  fcripture  itfelf,  as  Ahab  of  the  prophet, 
J  hale  h'lmyfor  hi  djth  not  prophecy  good  concerning  mf, 
Lut  cviL 

4.  What  comfort  cand  thou  find  in  any  thing 
which  thou  ponVlTeft  ?  Methinks,  friends,  and  ho. 
nours,  and  houfes,  and  lands,  fhould  do  thee  little 
good,  till  thou  know  thou  hall  the  love  of  God 
withal,  and  fualt  have  rcil  with  him  when  thou  k-av- 
ell  thefe.  Offer  to  a  prifoner,  before  he  know  his 
fentcnce,  either  mufic,  or  clothes,  or  lands  or  prefer- 
ment, and  what  oarers  he  for  nny  of  thefe.  till  he 
know  how  he  fli;:!!  cfcapf  for  his  liu^  ?  Then  he  will 
look  after  thefe  comfo'ts  of  life,  and  not  b  fore  :  f)r 
he  knows  if  he  miiR  die  the  next  day.  it  will  be  fmall 
comfort  to  die  rich  or  honourable.  Even  when  thou 
Heft  down  to  take  tliy  reft,  methinks  the  uncertainty 
of  thy  falvation  fhould  keep  tlice  waking,  or  amaze 
thte  in  thy  dreams,  and  trouble  thy  deep  ;  and  thou 
fl^ouldft  fay,  as  Job  in  a  fmaMer  diftrtfs  than  thine, 
Job  wiii    13,  14.   When  I  Jay^  my  hsdfoiiU  comfort  tm^ 


l66    The  Saints  EverlaJIivg  Rejl. 

my  couch  Jhall  eafe  my  complaint^  then  thou  fcareji  me 
through  dreamsy  and  terrijiejl  me  through  'v'lftom. 

5.  What  (hlft  dofl  thou  make  to  think  of  thy  dy- 
ing hour  ?  Thou  knoweft  it  is  hard  by,  nnd  there  is 
no  avoiding  it,  nor  any  medicine  found  out  that  can 
Jjrevent  it  ;  thou  knoweil  it  is  the  hing  cf  terror,  and 
the  inlet  to  tliine  unchangeable  ftate.  \i  thou  fhouldft 
die  this  day    (and  nx^hs^   knozvs   what  a   day   may  bring 

forth  P)  tliou  doft  not  know  whether  thou  {halt  go 
ftrait  to  heaven  or  hell :  And  canft  thou  be  merry  till 
thou  art  got  out  of  this  dangerous  ftate  ? 

6.  What  fhift  doft  thou  make  to  preferve  thy  heart 
from  horror,  when  thou  remembered  the  great  judg- 
ment day,  and  the  everlafting  flames  ?  doft  thou  not 
tremble  ns  Felix  when  thou  heareil  of  it  ?  and  as  the 
elders  of  the  town  trembled  when  Samuel  came  to  it, 
fayii)g,  comeft  thou  peaceably  P  So  methinks  thoii 
{houldft  do  when  the  minifter  comes  into  the  pulpit  : 
and  thy  heart,  whenever  thou  meditateft  of  that  day, 
fliould  meditate  terror,  and  thou  fhouldft  even  be  a 
terror  to  thyfelf  and  all  thy  friends.  If  the  keepers 
trembled,  and  became  as  dead  men,  when  they  did 
but  fee  the  angeh,  Matt,  xxviii.  3,  4.  bow  canll  thou 
think  of  living  in  lieli  with  devils,  till  thou  haft  got 
fome  found  affurance  that  thou  ftialt  efcape  it  ?  Or  if 
thou  feldom  think  of  thefe  things,  the  wonder  is  as 
great,  what  fnift  thou  makeft  to  keep  thcfe  thoughts 
fiom  thy  heart  ?  Thy  bed  is  very  foft,  or  thy  heart  Is 
very  hard,  if  thou  canft  fieep  foundly  in  this  uncertain 
cafe. 

I  have  {hewed  thee  the  danger  ;  let  me  next  proceed 
to  Ihcw  thee  the  remedy. 

If  this  general  uncertainty  of  the  world  about  their 
(alvatioii  were  remedilefs,  then  mull  it  be  borne  as 

otb.c« 


The  Saints  Everlajliiig  Rejl,     167 

other  unavoidable  miferies  :  but,  alas,  the  common 
caufe  is  wilfulnefs  and  negligence  :  men  will  not  be 
perfuaded  to  ufe  the  remedy,  though  it  be  at  hand, 
prefcribed  to  them  by  God  himfelf,  and  all  neceffary 
helps  thereunto  provided  for  them.  The  great  means 
to  conquer  this  uncertainty,  is  felf-examination,  ®r  the 
ferious  and  diligent  trying  of  a  man's  heart  and  ftate  by 
the  rule  of  fcripture.  But,  alas,  either  men  underlland 
-not  the  nature  and  ufe  of  this  duty,  or  ell'e  they  will 
not  be  at  the  pains  to  try.  Go  through  a  congregati- 
on of  a  thoufand  men,  and  how  few  of  them  will  you 
meet  with,  that  ever  be  flowed  one  hour  in  all  their 
lives  in  a  clofe  examination  of  their  title  to  heaven  ? 
A/k  thy  own  confcience,  reader,  when  was  the  time, 
and  where  w^asthe  place,  that  ever  thou  folemnly  took- 
edll  thy  heart  to  tafK,  as  in  the  fight  of  God,  and 
cxaminedll  it  by  fcripture,  whether  it  be  born  again 
or  not  ?  Whether  it  be  holy  or  not  ?  Whether  it  be 
fet  moll  on  God  or  on  creatures,  on  heaven  or  earth  ; 
and  didft  follow  on  this  examination  till  thou  hadft 
difcovered  thy  condition,  and  fo  paffed  fentence  on 
thy  feif  accordingly  ? 

But  becaufe  this  is  a  work  of  fo  high  concernment, 
and  fo  commonly  negleded,  I  will  therefore, 

1.  Shew  you,  that  it  is  poflible  by  trying,  to  con:>€ 
to  a  certainty. 

2.  Shew  you  the  hinderances  that  keep  men  from 
trying,  and  from  affurance. 

3.  I  will  lay   down   fome  motives  to  perfuade  you 
to  it. 

4.  I  will  give  you  fome  dir€(Siions  how  to  perform 
it. 

5.  And 


1 


1 68     The  Saints  Everlajlbig  Rejl. 

5.  And  laflly,  I  will  lay  you  down  fome  marks  out 
of  fcripture,  by  which  you  may  try,  and  come  to  an 
infalhble  certainty,  whether  you  are  the  people  of  God, 
or  no. 

And  I.  Ifhall  fhevv  you  that  a  certainty  of  falvallon 
may  be  attained,  and  ought  to  be  laboured  for.  Which 
{  maintain  by  thefe  arguments: 

1.  Scripture  tells  us  we  may  know,  and  that  the 
faints  l)efore  us  have  known  their  juftification,  and 
falvation,  2  Cor.  v.  i.  Rom.  viii.  36.  Jf^k-  xxi.  15, 
I  Joh.  V.  19.  and  iv.  13.  and  iii.  14,  24.  and  ii.  3,  5. 
Rom.  viii.  14,  19.  Eph.  Iii.  12.  I  refer  you  to  the 
places  for  brevity. 

2.  If  we  may  be  certain  of  the  premifes,  then  may 
we  alfo  be  certain  of  the  conclufion.  But  here  we  may- 
be certain  of  both  the  premifes.      For,  i.   That  ivho- 

foever  believetJo  in  Chnjl  Jhall  not  perijhy  but  have  ever- 
lajling  lifcy  is  the  voice  of  the  gofpel ;  and  therefore 
that  wc  may  be  fure  of;  that  we  are  fuch  believers, 
may  be  known  by  confcience  and  internal  fenfe. 

3.  The  fcripture  would  never  make  fuch  a  wide 
difference  between  the  children  of  God,  and  the  chil- 
dren of  the  devil,  and  fet  forth  the  happinefs  of  the 
one,  and  the  mifery  of  the  other,  and  make  this  dif- 
ference to  run  through  all  the  veins  of  its  do6lrine, 
if  a  man  cannot  know  which  of  thcfe  two  ftatcs  he  is 


4.  Much  lefs  v^'ould  the  Holy  Ghoft  bid  us  give  all 
diligence  to  make  our  calling  and  eledion  fure,  if  it  could 
not  be  done,  2.  Pet.  i.  10. 

5.  And  to  what  purpofe  fhould  we  be  fo   earneftly 
urged  to  examine,  and  prove,  and  try  ourfelves,  whe- 
ther 


The  Saints  EvendjUng  Rt/},     1 69 


s, 
xiii. 


iher  we  be  in  the  faltW,  and  whether  Chrift  be  in 
or  we  be  reprobates?   i    Cor.  xi.  28.  and  i  Cor. 
5.     Why  ihoidd  we  fearch  for  that  which  cannot  be 
found  ? 

6.  How  can  we  obey  thofe  precepts  which  require 
us  to  rejoice  always  :  i.  T/v/".  v.  16.  to  call  God  oiir 
father,  LuJ^e  xi.  i  5.  to  h'vc  in  his  prailVs,  P/al.  xh'x.  r, 
2,  3,4,  5.  and  to  long  for  Chi  ill's  coming,  Rdv.  sxii. 
17,  20,  2  T/ji'/.  i.  10.  and  to  comfort  oiirfcilves  wltk. 
the  mention  of  it,  i  T/x^.  iv.  18.  which  are  ail  th^ 
confequents  of  affnrance  i  Who  can  do  any  of  thefe 
heartily,  that  is  not  in  forae  meafiae  fure  that  he  is  #«. 
child  of  God  > 

The  2d  thing  I  promiTcd,  i^,  to  (hew  you  wliat  are 
the  hinderances  which  k(;ep  men  from  examination  and 
aOTurance.  I  niuil,  i.  iSriew  \\\\?X  hinders  them  froni 
trying;  and  2.  What  hindereth  them  from  knowirrr, 
when  they  do  try,  that  fo  when  you  fee  tht  impedi- 
ments, you  may  avoid  tliem. 

And,  J.  Wc  cannot  doubt  but  Satan  will  co  his  pnit 
to  hinder  us  from  fuch  a  ncccffary  duty  as  this  :  if  all 
the  power  he  hath  cau  do  it,  or  all  th.^  nuans  and  in- 
ftruments  which  he  can  raife  up.  He  is  loth  the  god- 
ly ihould  have  that  alTurance,  and  advantage  again;! 
Corruption,  which  faithful  felf-examin'dtion  would 
procure  them;  and  for  the  ungodly  he  knows,  if  they 
iliould  once  fall  clofe  to  this  they  would  find  out  his 
deceits,  and  their  own  danger.  If  they  did  but  faith- 
fully  perform  this  duty,  he  were  likely  to  lofe  moil 
of  his  fubj^cts.  If  the  fnare  be  not  hid,  the  bird  will 
cfcape  it:  Satan  knows  how  tc  angle  for  fouls,  bet- 
ter than  to  fliew  them  the  hook  or  line,  and  to  fright 
them  away  with  a  noife,  ov  witli  his  own  appear- 
ance, 

r  Therefore 


i  yo    The  Saints  Everlajling  ReJI^ 

Therefore  he  labours  to  keep  them  from  a  feard> 
ing  miniftry  ;  or  to  keep  the  minlfter  from  helping 
them  to  fearch  :  or  to  take  off  tlie  edge  of  the  word^ 
that  It  may  not  pierce,  or  to  turn  away  their  thoughts, 
or  poffcfs  them  with  prejudice  :  Satan  is  acquainted 
with  all  the  preparations  of  the  minifter  ;  he  knows 
when  he  hath  provided  a  feaiching  fermon,  fitted  to- 
the  (late  and  neceflity  of  an  hearer;  and  therefore  he 
will  keep  him  away  that  day,  if  it  be  pofiible,  or  elfe 
cad  him  afleep,  or  ileal  away  the  word  by  the  cares 
and  talk  of  the  workl,  or  fome  way  prevent  its  ope- 
ration. 

This  is  the  firft  hinderance. 

2.  Wicked  men  alfo  are  great  impediments  to  poor 
finners  when  they  ftiould  examine  and  difcover  their 
eftates. 

1.  Their  examples  hinder  much.  When  an  ignorant 
finner  feeth  all  his  friends  and  neighbours  do  as  h« 
doth,  yea,  the  rich  and  learned  as  well  as  others,  this 
js  an  exceeding  great  temptation  to  proceed  in  hi« 
fecurity. 

2.  The  merry  company  and  difcourfe  of  thefe 
men  do  take  away  the  thoughts  of  his  fpiritual  ftate, 
and  make  the  uiiderfianding  drunk:  fo  that  if  the 
Spirit  had  before  put  into  them  any  jealoufy  of  them- 
ielves,  or  any  purpofe  to  try  themfelves,  thefe  do  foon 
quench  all. 

3.  Alfo  their  continual  difcouife  of  matters  of  the 
world,  doth  damp  all  thefe  purpsfes. 

4.  Their  railings  alfo,  and  fcorning  at  godly  per- 
fons,  is  a  very  great  impediment  to  multitudes  of 
fculs,  and  poffefleth  them  with  fuch  a  prejudice  and 

<3iflik€ 


The  Saints  Everlajling  Refi.     ijl 

^I'nikc   of    the  way  to   heaven,  that  they  fettle  In  the 
way  ihey  are  in. 

5,  Theli-  con(la«t  perfnafions,  allurements,  and 
threats,  }un<ier  much.  God  doth  fearce  ever  open  the 
eyes  of  a  poor  finner,  to  fee  that  his  way  is  wrong, 
but  prefently  there  is  a  multitude  of  Satan's  a})()fllc» 
f  eady  to  flatter  him,  and  daub,  and  deceive,  and  fettle 
him  again  in  the  quiet  poflelllon  of  iiis  former  maf^ 
ter.  What,  fay  they,  do  yon  make  a  doubt  of  yoni* 
felvation,  who  have  lived  fo  well,  and  done  no  body 
harm  ?  God  is  merciful  :  and  if  fuch  as  you  Oiall  not 
be  faved,  God  help  a  great  many :  what  do  yoii 
think  is  become  of  all  your  fore-fathers  ?  And  wliat 
will  become  of  all  your  friends  and  ceighbours  that 
live  as  you  do?  Will  they  all  be  damned?  Shall  none 
be  faved  think  you,  but  a  few  ftridl  ones  r  Come, 
come,  if  ye  hearken  to  thefe  books  or  preachers,  th-.-y 
will  drive  you  to  defpair,  or  drive  you  out  of  your 
wits  :  thus  d()  they  follow  the  foul  that  is  efcaping 
from  Satan,  with  relllefs  cries,  till  they  have  bro^i'.^t 
him  back  :  Oh,  how  many  thoufands  have  luoii 
charms  kept  afleep  in  fecurity,  till  death  and  hell  liavc 
awakened  and  better  informed  them  !  The  Lord  calls 
to  the  finner,  and  tells  him,  The  gate  is  Jira'tty  ths 
ivay  is  narrow y  and  feiu  Jindit  :  try  and eximine  zvhe- 
thsr  thou  be  in  the  faith  or  no  :  ^ive  all dil}.' erne  to  mais 
Jure  in  time. — And  the  world  cries  .out  clean  the  con- 
t  rary,  never  doubt,  never  trouble  yourfelves  with  thef^ 
thoughts  : — I  entreat  the  fmner  that  is  in  this  (Irait, 
to  confider,  that  it  is  Chri'l,  and  not  their  fathers, 
or  mothers,  or  neighbours,  or  friends  that  mull  jvidge 
them:  and  if  Chrill  condemn  them,  tliefe  cannot  fave 
them  :  and  therefore  common  reafon  may  tell  them, 
that  it  is  not  from  the  woids  of  ignorant  men,  but 
from  the  word  of  God  that  they  raufl  fetch  their 
hopes  of  falvation. 

Whea 


X 11    The  Saints  Everhifting  Reft. 

V^hen  u^hah  would  er.qinre  amon^  the  multitudes 
«)f  Mattering  prophets,  it  was  his  death.  They  cati 
?!:itter  men  into  the  fnare,  but  they  cannot  bring  ihem 
out.  Oh,  take  tl'.c  counlcl  of  the  Holy  Ghoft,  E^h. 
^.  6,  7.  Let  no  man  deceive  you  with  vain  ii/crds  :  for 
Iccauje  of  ibefe  things  cometk  ih^  wrath  of  God  vpott 
ihe  chlliJrtn  of  difohedUnce :  he  not  ye  iherefcre partah- 
ers  iviih  them :  but  fan)e  yourfhes  from  this  unfy^'tvard 
^ifnerativn. 

3.  Ejt  tlie  grcat^Il  hindeiancvS  are  in  men'aown 
iiearts. 

1 .  Some  are  fo  ignorant  that  they  know  not  what 
fell  cxaminaticfl  is,  nor  what  a  niinifter  means  when 
he  pcrfuaJeth  them  to  try  themftlves  ;  or  they  knovr 
DOt  that  there  is  any  necefijty  of  it  :  but  think  every 
^■Linn  is  bound  tQ  believe  that  God  is  his  father,  and 
that  his  fins  are  pardoned  whetijcr  it  be  true  or  falfe  ; 
i-.nd  that  it  were  a  great  fault  to  make  any  qneftion  of 
it  :  or  they  do  not  think  tijat  afinrance  can  be  attain- 
ed :  or  that  there  is  any  fuch  great  diiTerencc  bctv  ixt 
one  man  and  another  :  but  that  we  are  till  chriftlars, 
iind  therefore  need  not  trouble  ourCelves  any  further  : 
or  at  lead  they  know  not  whciein  the  difference  lies  ; 
luir  how  to  fct  upon  this  featching  of  their  hearts. 
They  have  as  grofsconceitsof  that  regeneration,  which 
they  m'.ill  fearch  for,  as  Nkodemus  had  ;  they  are  like 
I'.iofe  in  y^^s  xix.  2.  that  knezu  not  nvheiher  there  ivere 
a  Holy  Gh'jji  to  he  received  or  no. 

2.  Some  are  fo  poffeffed  with  felf-love  and  pride, 
tliat  they  will  aot  fo  much  as  fufpedl  any  danger  to 
themfelves.  Like  a  proud  tradefman  who  fcorns  the 
motion  when  his  friends  defire  lum  to  cail  up  his 
books,  becaufe  they  are  afraid  he  will  break.  As 
f  )me  fond  parents  that  have  an  over-weaning  conceit 
ci  their  own  children,  and  therefore  will  not  believe 

or 


The  Saints  Ev€rlajling  Rcfl.      1 73 

-or  hear  any  evil  of  them  :   fuch  a  fond  felf-Iove  doth 
hinder  men  from  fufpedling  and  trying  their  ftates. 

3.  Some  are  fo  guilty  that  they  dare  not  try  :  they 
are  fo  fearful  that  they  (hould  find  their  eftates  ua- 
found,  that  they  dare  not  fearch  into  them.  And  yet 
they  dare  venture  them  to  a  more  dreadful  trial. 

4.  Some  are  fo  in  love  with  their  fin,  and  fo  in  dif- 
like  with  the  way  of  God,  that  they  dare  not  fall  on 
the  trial  of  their  ways,  left  they  be  forced  from  th<i 
courfe  which  they  love. 

5.  Some  are  fo  refolved  already  never  to  change 
their  prefent  flate,  that  they  neglccl  examination  as  a 
irtelefs  thing  :  before  they  will  turn  fo  precife  and 
feek.  a  new  way,  when  they  have  lived  fo  long,  ar.d 
gone  fo  far,  they  will  put  their  eternal  ftate  to  the 
venture,  come  of  it  what  will.  And  when  a  man  if; 
fully  refolved  to  hold  to  his  way,  and  not  to  tr.ra 
back,  be  it  right  or  wrong,  to  what  end  fiiould  he 
enquire  whether  he.  be  right  or  no  ?  - 

6.  Mod  men  are  fo  taken  up  with  their  worldly  af- 
fairs, and  are  fo  bufy  in  providing  for  the  flefh,  that 
they  cannot  ftt  themfelves  to  the  trying  of  their  title 
to  heaven  :  they  have  another  kind  of  happinefs  in 
their  eye,  which  will  not  fuffer  them  to  make  fure  of 
fceaven. 

7.  But  the  mpft  common  impediment  is  that  falie 
faith  and  hope  commonly  called  prefumption  ;  whicf* 
bears  up  the  hearts  of  moft  of  the  wotld,  and  lb  keeps 
ihtm  from  fufpeding  their  danger. 

Thus  you  fee  what  abundance  of  difficulties  mud  be 
overcome,  bef(jre  a  man  clofcly  fets  upcn  the  examiri»- 
iflg  of  i^Io  iieart. 

i*  J2  Aiid 


174    ^^^^f^  S.unts  Ever! Lifting  Rcjl. 

And  If  a  man  brtak  through  all  thcTc  impediments, 
and  fet  upon  the  duty,  yet,  of  thofe  few  who  enquire 
aftei  means  of  afTiirance,  divers  are  deceived  and  mlf- 
cany,  efpecially  through  thefe  following  caufes. 

1.  There  is  fuch  confufion  and  darknefs  in  the  foul 
of  man,  efpecially  of  an  unrcgencrale  man,  that  he  can 
fcarcely  tell  what  he  doth,  or  what  is  in  him.  As  one 
can  hardly  find  any  thing  in  an  houfe  wheie  notliing 
l<ceps  its  place,  but  all  is  caft  on  an  heap  together  ; 
f )  is  it  in  the  heart  where  all  things  are  in  difordcr, 
efpecially  when  darknefs  is  added  to  tliis  diforder:  fo 
that  the  heart  is  like  an  obfcure  dungeon,  where  there 
is  but  a  little  crevice  of  light,  and  a  man  mull  rather 
;:rope  than  fee,  no  vv'onder  if  men  miitake  in  fearch- 
ing  fuch  an  heart,  and  fo  mifcarry  in  judging  their 
eiUtes. 

2.  Befides,  many  are  refolved  what  to  judge  before 
tney  tty  :  they  ufe  the  duty  but  to  ftrengthen  their 
prefent  conceits  of  ihemfelves,  and  not  to  find  out  the 
truth  of  their  condition:  like  a  bribed  judge,  who 
examines  each  party  as  if  he  would  judge  uprightly, 
when  he  is  refolved  which  way  the  caufe  fhall  go  be- 
fore-hand.    Jiift  fo  do  men  examine  their  hearts. 

^,  Alfo  men  try  themftlves  by  falfe  marks  and 
rr.lcs  :  not  knowing  wherein  the  truth  of  cl-inilianity 
doth  confill  :  fome  looking  beyond,  and  fome  fhort 
of  the  fcripture-iiandard. 

Laflly,  Men  frequently  mifcarry  in  this  work,  by 
fettinjr  (HI  it  in  their  own  ilrength.  As  fome  expert 
the  Spirit  (hould  do  it  without  them,  fo  others  at- 
tempt it  themfelves  without  feeking  or  exped^ing  the 
helj)  of  tlie  Spirit  :  both  ihcfe  will  certainly  mifcarry 
i\\  iheir  afluiance. 

CHAP. 


The  Saints  Everlafling  Reji,     17-5 
CHAP.     Vlll. 

Further  Caufts  of  doubting  among  Cbrlflians, 

BECAUSE  the  comfort  of  a  cliriillan's  life  doth  fo 
Kiiich  confid  in  his  afTurance  of  God's  fpecial 
love,  and  bccaufe  the  vioht  way  of  obtaining  it  is  fo 
much  controv.;rted,  I  will  here  proceed  a  little  fiiitl.er 
111  opening  to  you  fonfie  other  hinder ances  which  keep 
ii4  chiiftians  from  comfortable  certainty. 

I.  O-^e  great  caufe  of  doubting  and  uncertainty,  is, 
the  weaknefs  of  our  grace.  A  little  grace  is  next  to 
none.  Small  things  are  hardly  difccrned.  Moft  con- 
tent themfulves  with  a  fmall  mcafuve  of  grace,  and  do 
not  follow  on  to  fpiritual  ftrength  and  manhood.  They 
believe  fo  wc^akly,  and  love  God  fo  little,  that  thry 
can  fcarce  find  whether  tliey  believe  and  love  at  all. 
Like  a^man  in  a  fwoon,  whofe  pulfe  and  breathing  is 
fo  weak,  that  they  can  hardly  be  perceived  whether 
they  move  at  all,  and  conftqueutly  whether  the  maw 
be  alive  or  dead. 

Tlie  chief  remedy  for  fuch  would  be,  to  follow  on 
their  duty,  till  their  graces  be  increafed  :  ply  your 
v.'ork  :  r.  ait  upon  God  in  the  ufe  of  his  prefcribed 
nuins,  and  he  will  undoubtedly  bkfs  you  with  in- 
cr^'.-ile.  O  that  chriftians  would  beRow  moil  of  th.at 
time  in  getting  more  grace,  wiiicli  thty  bdtow  in  -i^i^  I- 
GVi  doublings  whether  they  have  any  or  none  ;  mid 
that  they  would  lay  out  thofe  ferrous  affections  ia 
praying,  and  feeking  to  Chriil  for  more  grace,  which 
th.  V  bellow  in  fruitlcfs  complaints  I  -I  bcfeech  thee, 
tiike  this  advice  as  from  Go^  !  and  then,  when  ti>  ;u 
bclieveff  {lror:<'lv,  and  loved  fervently,  thou  ciiiiit  not 
4oubt  whether  thou  believe  and  love  or  not ;  no  n-.-ne 

ihaa 


\ 


l'76    77jf  Sainfs  Everlcjling  Reft. 

than  a  man  that  is  burning  hot  can  doubt  whether  he 
be  warm  :  or  a  man  that  is  ftrong  and  lufty  can  doubt 
whethtr  he  be  alive. 

2.  Many  a  foul  lieth  long  under  doubting,  through 
the  jmperfefkion  of  their  very  reafbn,  and  exceeding 
weaknefs  of  their  natural  parts.  Grace  doth  ufually 
rather  employ  our  faculties  on  better  objeds,  than  add 
to  the  degree  <Df  their  natural  ftrength.  Many  honed 
hearts  have  fiich  weak  heads,  that  they  know  not  how 
to  perform  the  work  of  felf-trial  :  they  are  not  able  to 
argue  the  cafe  ;  they  will  acknowlcd^re  the  premifes, 
arid  yet  deny  the  apparent  conclufion.  Or  if  they  be 
brought  to  acknowledge  the  conclufion,  yet  they  do 
but  (tagger  in  their  conceiTion,  and  hold  it  fo  weakly, 
that  every  affault  may  take  it  from  them.  If  God  do- 
nor feme  other  way  fupply  to  thefe  men  the  defedl  of 
their  reafon,  I  fee  not  how  they  fhould  have  clear  and 
fettled  peace. 

3.  Another  common  caufe  of  doubting  and  difcom- 
iort,  is,  the  fecret  maintaining  fome  known  fin. 

When  a  man  liveth  in  fome  unwarrantable  praftice, 
and  God  hath  oft  touched  him  for  it,  and  yet  he  con- 
tinueth  it ;  it  is  no  wonder  if  this  perfon  want  both* 
affurance  and  comfort.  One  would  think  that  a  foul 
that  is  fo  tender  as  to  tremble,  fliould  be  as  tender  of 
fiiiiu'n^  :  and  yet  fad  experience  telleth  us  that  it  is 
frequently  otherwife  :  1  have  known  too  many  fuch, 
that  would  <:omplain  and  yet  iin,  and  accufe  them- 
felves,  and  yet  fin  it  ill,  yea  and  defpair,  and  yet  pro- 
ceed in  finning;  and  all  arguments  and  means  could 
rot  keep  them  from  the  wiliful  committing  of  that  fin 
zgain  and  again,  which  yet  they  thtmfelves  did  think 
r.'ould  prove  their  dellrud^ion.  Yea,  fome  will  be 
carried  away  with  thofc  fins  that  feem  mod  contrary 
■i»o.ihar  dcjeded  temj)er,     1  have  known  them  thaf 


Thi  Saints  Everlajling  Rejl,    1 77 

would  fill  men's  cars  witli  the  conftant  lamentations  of 
their  mlferabh  flate,  and  accufations  againft  them- 
fdvcs,  as  if  t'ley  had  been  the  mod  humble  people  ia 
the  world  ;  and  yet  be  as  paffionate  '\\\  tlie  maintaining 
their  innoceucy  vvhen  another  rK-cufcth  thtm,  and  as 
intolerably  pccviih,  and  tender  of  lf»tii  reputation  in 
any  thing  they  are  blamed  for,  as  if  they  were  the 
proudeft  perfons  o»i  earth. 

This  cherilhing  Hn  doth  hinder  afTiirance  thefc  four 
ways.  \ 

If  It  doth  abate  the  degree  of  our  graces,  and  fo 
makes  them  undiiccrnable. 

2.  It  obfcureth  that  which  it  deftroycth  not  ;  for  it 
beareth  fuch  fway,  that  grace  is  not  feen  to  lllr,  nor 
fcarcc  hcaid  fpeak  for  the  noife  of  this  corruption. 

3.  Il  piuteth  out,  01  darkeneth  the  eye  of  the  foal, 
audit  bcnumb;:th  and  Itupificth  it. 

4.  But  efptcially  it  provoketh  God  to  withdraw 
liia:)felf,  his  comforts  and  the  afilTlance  of  the  Spirit, 
with  )ut  which  we  may  fearch  long  enough  before  we 
have  aiTiiratice.  God  hath  made  a  feparation  betwixt 
fin  and  pt-ace.  As  long  as  thou  doR  cherifh  thy  pride, 
thy  love  of  the  world,  the  dcfires  of  the  fleih,  or  any 
Tinchii[liau  practice,  thou  expedlell  alTurance  and  com- 
foit  in  vain.  God  wili  not  encourage  thee  by  his 
precious  gifts  in  a  courfe  of  finning.  This  worm 
Will  be  gnawing  upon  thy  confcieace ;  It  will  be  a 
ckvouting  canker  to  thy  confolations.  Thou  niay»c 
(teal  a  fpark  of  falfe  comfojt  from  thy  worldly  prof- 
pcrity  01  dtlight  :  or  thou  mayft  have  it  from  fome 
ialfe  opinions,  or  from  the  d^lufions  of  Satan  ;  but 
from  God  thou  wilt  have  no  comfoit.  However  an 
AiiU;.GTRijn  may  tell  thee,  that  thy  coaifoits  have  no  dc* 

peudaucQ 


\ 


178    T/js  Saints  Everlajting  Refi. 

pendance  upon  thy  obedience,  nor  thy  difcomforts  iip" 
on  thy  difobedience  ;  and  therefore  may  fpeak  peace 
to  thee  in  the  courfe  of  thy  finning  ;  yet  thou  flialt 
find  by  experience  that  God  will  not.  If  any  man- 
fet  up  his  idols  in  his  heart,  and  put  the  ftumbling* 
block  o~  his  iniquity  before  his  face,  and  cometh  to 
a  rainifter,  or  to  God,  to  enquire  for  afTurance  and 
comfort,  God  will  anfwer  that  man  by  himfelf,  and 
inllead  of  comforting  him,  he  will  fet  his  face  againd 
him,  he  will  anftver  him  according  to  the  multitude  of  his 
idols.  k 

5.  Another  common  caufe  of  want  of  aiTurance  and 
comfort,  is,  when  men  grow  lazy  in  the  fpii  itual  part 
of  duty.  As  Dr.  SMs  faith  truly,  **  it  is  the  lazy 
chriftian  commonly  that  lacketh  affurance."  The 
way  of  painful  duty,  is  the  way  of  fulleft  comfort. 
Chrirt:  carritth  all  our  comforts  in  his  hand  :  if  we  ar« 
out  of  that  way  where  Chrift  is  to  be  met,  we  are  out 
of  the  way  where  comfort  Is  to  be  had. 

Thefe  two  ways  doth  this  lazinefs  debar  us  of  our 
comforts. 

T.  By  flopping  the  fountain,  and  caufing  Chrift  to 
*x'ithhold  this  blefiing  from  us.  Parents  ufe  not  to 
fmile  upon  children  in  their  negle6^s  and  difobedience. 
So  far  as  the  Spirit  is  grieved,  he  will  fufpend  his  con- 
folations.  AfTurance  and  peace  are  Chrid's  great  en- 
courap-eiments  to  faithfulnefs  and  obedience  :  and  there- 
fore  (though  our  obedience  do  not  merit  them,  yet) 
they  ufually  rife  and  fall  with  our  diligence  in  duty. 
Tney  that  have  enteitaincd  the  y^n/i«om/a«  dotage  to 
cover  their  idlenefs  and  vicioufnefs,  may  talk  their 
iionfenfe  againll  this  at  pleafure,  but  the  laborious 
ehtlftian  knows  it  by  experience.  As  prayer  muft 
bavf  faith  and  fervency  to  procure  its  fuccefs,  befidcs 
the  bloodshed  and  Int^rceifion  of  Chrift,  fo   mufl  all 

Other 


4 


The  Saints  Kverlajiing  Reji.     i  J'g 

other  parts  of  our  obedience.  Ke  that  will  fay  to  us 
in  that  triumphing  day,  Well  done ^  good  and tWthJulfer- 
tvanty  enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord ;  will  alfo  com- 
fort his  fervants  in  their  moll  afFcflionate  and  fpiritual 
duties,  and  fay,  Well  dontt  good  and  faithful  jervant^ 
take  this foretajie  of  thy  everlafling  joy.  If  thou  grow 
feldom  and  cuftomary,  and  cold  in  duty,  efpecially  fn 
thy  fecret  prayers  to  God,  and  yet  findeft.  no  abate- 
ment in  thy  joys,  I  cannot  but  fear  that  thy  joys  are 
cither  carnal  or  diabolical. 

2.  The  adion  of  the  foul  upon  fuch  excellent  objects 
tloth  naturally  bring  confolation  witli  it.  The  very 
a6l  of  loving  God  in  Chrifl  doth  bring  irexpreflible 
fweetnefs  into  the  foul.  The  foul  that  is  be  ft  furnifhed 
with  grace,  when  it  is  not  in  action,  is  like  a  lute 
well  ftringed  and  tuned,  which  while  it  lleth  ftill,  doth 
make  no  more  mufic  than  a  common  piece  of  wood  j 
but  when  it  is  taken  up  and  handled  by  a  fliilful  lutift, 
the  melody  is  delightful.  Some  degree  of  comfort  fol- 
lows every  good  adlion,  as  heat  accompanies  fire,  and 
as  beams  and  influence  ifiue  from  the  fun  :  which  is  fo 
true,  that  the  very  heathens  upon  the  difcharge  of  a 
good  confcience  have  found  comfort  and  peace  anfwer- 
able.  This  is  pram  turn  antejiramium  :  a  reward  before 
the  reward. 

As  a  m^n  therefore  that  is  cold  fhould  not  ftand  ftifl 
and  fay,  I  am  fo  cold  that  1  have  no  mind  to  labour, 
but  labour  till  his  coldnefs  be  gone,  and  heat  excited  j 
fo  he  that  wants  the  comfort  of  afTurance,  mull  not 
ttand  ftill,  and  fay,  I  am  fo  doubtful  and  uncomforta- 
ble that  I  have  no  mind  for  duty  ;  but  ply  his  duty, 
and  exercife  his  graces,  till  he  finds  his  doubts  and 
dif comforts  vanifti. 

And  thus  I  have  {hewn  you  the  chief  caufcs,  why  fd 
fijany  chriftians  eojoy  fuliuk  aiTurance  and  confolation. 

CHAP. 


l8o     The  Saints  Everlajl'wg  keji^ 

C  II  A  P.     IX. 

Ccntabung  Direflions  for  Examination^  end 
.  fome  marks  of  Trial, 

I  WILL  not  (land  here  to  lay  down  the  dlredliona 
necciTary  for  preparation  to  this  duty,  becaufe  you 
may  gather  them  from  what  is  faid  concerning  the 
hlnderances  :  for  the  contraiies  of  thofe  hinderance* 
will  be  the  mod  necefiary  helps.  Only  before  you 
ftt  upon  it,  1  advife  you  to  the  obfervation  of  thcfqi 
rules. 

1  Come  not  wllh  too  peremptory  conclufions  of 
youiftlvesbeforc-hand*  ,  Do  not  judge  too  confidently 
before  you  try. 

2.  Be  fure  to  be  fo  well  acquainted  with  the  fcrip^ 
lure,  as  to  know  what  is  the  tenor  of  the  covenant  o£ 
grace,  and  what  are  the  conditions  of  jultification  andt 
glorification,  and  confequently  what  are  found  marks 
to  tiy  thyfelf  by. 

3.  Be  a  conftant  obferver  of  the  temper  and  motions, 
of  thy  heart ;  mod  of  the  difficulty  of  the  work  doth 
lie  in  true  and  clear  difcerning  of  it.  Be  watchful  in 
obfcrving  the  actings  both  of  grace  and  corruption,, 
ai)d  the  circumftanccs  of  their  ablings  :  as,  how  free- 
quent  ?  how  violent  ?  how  llrong  or  weak  were  the 
outward  incitements  ?  how  great  or  fmall  tlie  impedi' 
ments  ?  what  deli^'lt,  or  loathing,  or  fear,  or  reluc- 
taucy  did  go  with  thofe  adls  ? 

I.  Empty  thy  mind  of  all  thy  other  cares  and 
thoughts,  that  they  do  not  diftrad  or  divide  thy  mind: 
t^is  work  will  be  enough  at  once  of  itfclf,  without 
joining  others  with  it. 

2.  Then 


llje  Saints  EverlaJIwg  lUft.    1 8  x 

2.  Then  fall  down  before  God,  and  in  hearty 
prayer  defire  the  alTidance  of  his  Spirit,  to  dircovi;:r 
to  thee  the  plain  truth  of  thy  condition,  and  to  en- 
lighten thee  in  tlie  whole  progrefs  of  the  work. 

I  will  not  digrcfs  to  warn  yon  here  of  the  falfe  rules 
and  marks  of  trial  of  which  yon  mu ft  beware.  Bat 
I  will  briefly  adjoin  fcnne  marks  to  try  your  title  to 
this  reft. 

I.  Every  foul  that  hath  a  title  to  this  reft,  doth  place 
his  happinefs  in  it,  and  make  it  the  ultimate  eed  of 
his  foul.  This  is  the  firft  mark  ;  which  is  fo  plain  a 
truth,  that  1  need  not  ftand  to  prove  it.  For  this  rell 
conlifteth  in  the  {\.\^  and  glorious  enjoyment  of  God  ; 
and  he  that  maketh  not  God  his  ultimate  end,  is  m 
heart  a  pagan   and  vile  idolater. 

Let  me  aflc  thee  then  ;  doft  thou  tridy  account  it 
thy  chief  happinefs  to  enjoy  the  Lord  in  glory,  or 
doft  thou  not?  Canft  thou  fay  with  Dav'td^  'The  Lord 
is  my  portion  ?  And  nvhom  have  I  in  heaven  but  thee? 
And  whom  in  earth  that  I  dejire  in  ccmparifm  of  thee  ? 
If  thou  be  an  heir  of  reft,  it  is  thus  witii  thee.  Tho* 
the  fiefti  will  be  pleading  for  its  own  delights,  and 
the  world  will  be  creeping  into  thine  affeftion,  yet  in 
thy  ordinary,  fettled,  prevailing  judgment  and  affec- 
tions, thou  preferreil  God  before  all  things  in  the 
world. 

I.  Thou  makefl:  him  the  end  of  thy  defircs  and  en- 
deavours :  the  very  reafon  why  thou  heareft  and  pray- 
cft,  why  thou  defireft  to  h've  and  breathe  on  earth,  is 
this,  that  thou  mayft  feek  the  Lord.  Thou  feekeft: 
firft  the  kingdom  of  God  and  its  righteoufnefs  :  tho' 
thou  doft  not  feek  it  fo  zealoufly  as  thou  (houldft  ; 
yet  hath  it  the  chief  of  tliy  defires  and  endeavours  ; 
and  nothing  elfe  is  defired  or  prefericd  before  it- 

Q_  2.  Thod 


1 32     77:7^  Saints  Everlajimg  Rc/f.^ 

2.  Thou  w'lt  think  no  labour  or  fufFerlng  too 
jgrcat  to  obtain  it.  "nd  though  the  fiefh  may  Tome- 
times  (brink,  yet  art  thou  refolved  and  content  to  go 
'through  all. 

3.  If  thou  be  an  heir  of  reft,  thy  valuation  of  it 
^K\\\  be  fo  high,  and  thy  affeftion  to  it  fo  great,  that 
thou  wouldd  not  exchange  thy  title  to  it,  and  hopes 
of  it,  for  any  worldly  good  whatfoever.  If  God 
woLi'd  fet  before  thee  an  tternity  of  earthly  pkafure 
on  one  hand,  and  the  reft  of  the  faints  on  the  other, 
and  bid  thee  take  thy  choice  ;  thcu  wouldft  refufe  the 
^vorld,  and  choofc  this  reft. 

But  if  tho',1  be  yet  in  the  fiefh.  then  It  is  clean  con- 
trary v'ith  thet  :  then  doft  thou  in  thy  heart  picfcr  thy 
v/orldly  happinefs  before  God  ;  and  thr.'-)jh  thy  tongire 
may  fay,  that  Gud  is  the  chief  good,  yet  thy  heart 
doth  not  fo  efteem  him.     for, 

I.  The  world  is  the  chief  end  of  thy  defires  and 
endeavours  ;  thy  very  heart  is  fet  upon  it  ;  thy  great- 
€ft  care  and  labour  is  to  maintain  thy  eftaie,  or  credit, 
or  flefiily  delights.  But  the  life  to  come  hath  little  of 
thy  care  or  labour.  Thou  didft  never  perceive  fo. 
much  excellency  in  the  unfeen  glory  as  to  draw  thy 
heart  fo  after  it  ;  but  that  little  pains  which  thou  be- 
ftoweft  that  way,  it  is  but  in  th*^  fecond  place.  God 
hath  but  the  world's  leavings,  and  that  time  and  la- 
bour which  thou  canft  fpare  from  the  world,  or  thofc 
few  cold  aiid  carelefj  thoughts  which  follow  thy  ron- 
ilant,  earneft,  and  delightful  thoughts  of  earthly- 
things  :  neither  wouldft  thou  do  any  thing  at  all  for 
heaven,  if  thou  kneweft  how  to  keep  the  world  :  but 
left  thou  (houldft  be  turned  into  hell,  when  thou  canft 
keep  the  world  no  longer,  therefore  thou  wilt  do 
Comet  hing. 

2.  There. 


The  Saints  Everlajling  Rejl.     1 8  3 

2.  Therefore  it  is  tliat  thou  thinkcft  the  way  of 
God  toi)  ftric^,  and  wilt  not  be  pevfuadtd  to  tlic  ccn- 
(lant  Jahonr  of  walking  according  to  the  gofptl  rule  z 
and  when  it  comes  to  trial,  tliat  thou  .nuH  for^  ke 
Chrifl  or  tliy  wotMly  happinef-*.  and  the  wind  w  iJi 
wa>  in  ti»y  back  d'>th  turn  in  thy  fice.  then  thou  vv  ik 
venture  he-ivcn  rather  than  earth,  and  as  dtfperatt-  le- 
bel^  nfe  to  fay'  thou  wilt  rathei  tiali  God's  mctry 
for  ih)  foul,  than  man's  for  thy  body  ;  and  l"o  deny 
thy  obedience  to  God. 

5.  And  c<'rtainly  if  God  would  but  give  thee  leave 
to  h've  in  health  and  wcalrli  for  ever  on  earth,  l  -.w 
wouldii  think  it  a  better  ftatethr.n  rcll  ;  let  them  It.k 
for  ^KU'en  that  would,  tliou  wotjldll  thivik  thi.7  ihy 
chivf.'ll  happinefs.  'I'his  is  thy  cafe  if  th.ju  be  ytt  an 
tinregencKitc  pciion,  aiid  hall  no  title  to  tiie  faiuLs  relt. 

The  fecond  mark  which  I  fhall  give  tlice,  to  try 
vhccher  thou  be  an  heir  of  relt,  is  this  : 

As  thou  taked  God  for  thy  ctiief  good,  fo,  Thou 
dofl  heartily  accept  of  Chriil  for  thy  only  Saviour  and 
JiOrd  to  bring  thee  to  this  reil.  The  former  mark, 
was  the  fum  of  the  firll  and  great  command  of  the  law 
of  nature,  [ThmJh^It  }ove)he  Lord  ihy  God.]  This 
ffcond  mark  is  the  fum  of  the  command  or  condition 
of  the  gofpel,  [Balieve  in  the  Lord  Jrfus,  and  ihoujhalt 
he  faved.\  And  the  performance  of  ihefe  two  is  the 
whole  fum  or  efTence  of  godlinefs  and  chrillianity. 
Obferve  therefore  the  parts  of  this  mark,  which  is 
iMit  a  definition  of  faith. 

r.  Doft  thou  find  that  thou  art  naturally  a  lofl,  con- 
demned man,  for  thy  breach  of  the  firll  covenant  ? 
And  believe  that  Jefus  Chriil  is  the  mediator  who  hath 
mad<!  a  fufiicient  fatisfadion  to  the  law  ?  And  hear- 
ing ill  the  gofpel  that  he  is  offered  without  exception 

unto 


1 84     The  Saints  Everlajling  Rtjl. 

unto  all,  doft  tliou  heartily  con  Tent  that  he  alone  fhall 
be  thy  Saviour  ?  And  nu  further  truft  to  thy  duties 
and  works,  than  as  conditions  required  by  him,  and 
means  appointed  in  fubordlnation  to  him  ?  Not  look- 
ing at  them  as  in  the  lead  meafure  able  to  fatisfy  the 
courfe  of  the  law,  or  as  a  legal  righteoufnefs,  nor  any 
part  of  it  ?  But  art  content  to  truft  thy  falvation  on 
the  redemption  made  by  Chrlft  \ 

2.  Art  thou  alfo  content  to  take  hirn  for  thy  only 
Lord  and  King,  to  govern  and  guide  thee  by  his  laws 
and  Spirit  ?  And  to  obey  him  even  when  he  com- 
inandeth  the  hardeft  duties,  and  thofe  which  raoft 
crofs  the  defires  of  the  flefli  ?  Is  it  thy  forrow  when 
thou  hreakeft  thy  refolution  herein?  nnd  thy  joy 
when  thou  keepeft  clofeft  in  obedience  to  him  \ 
Wouldfc  thou  not  change  thy  Lord  and  Mafter  for 
ail  the  world  I  Thus  it  is  with  every  true  clirillian. 
But  if  thou  be  an  unbch"e\^er  it  is  far  otherwife.  Thou 
rnayft  call  Chrifl  thy  Lord  and  thy  Saviour  ;  but  thou 
never  found'O  thyfelf  fo  loft  without  him,  as  to  drive 
thee  to  truft  hi.ii,  and  lay  t!iy  falvation  on  him  alone  : 
or  at  leaft  ihcu  didft  never  heartily  confent  that  he 
fhould  govern  thee  as  thy  Lord  ;  nor  refign  up  thy 
foul  and  life  to  be  ruled  by  him  ;  nor  take  his  word 
for  the  law  of  thy  thoughts  and  a£iions.  It  is  like 
thou  ajt  content  to  be  faved  from  hell  by  Chrift  when 
thou  dieft  :  but  in  the  mean-time  he  fliall  command 
thee  no  further  than  will  ftand  with  thy  credit,  or 
pleafure,  or  vi^orldly  eftate  and  ends.  And  if  he  would 
give  thee  leave,  thou  had  ft  far  rather  Hve  after  the 
^vorld  and  ficft),  than  after  the  word  and  Spirit.  And 
though  thou  ma)  ft  now  and  then  have  a  motion  or 
purpofe  to  the  contrary  ;  yet  this  that  I  have  menti- 
oned, is  the  ordinary  deftre  and  choice  of  thine  heart  : 
nnd  fo  thou  art  no  true  believer  In  Chrift  :  for  though 
thou  confcfs  him  in  words,  yet  in  works  thou  doft 
deny  him,  being   difohedicntf    and  to  every  good  ivork  a 

d'tfa^froieK 


The  Saints  Everlajling  Reft,    185 

dfapprover   and  a  reprobate,   Tit,   i.    i6.     This  is  the 
cafe  of  thofe  that  Hiall  be  (hut  out  of  the  faints  reft. 

jc^r*:  ^K  K-^*:  x(  ^:Ct :«  >:  :<^"  >:i  >K  ic(  ):<  >^rA' >>^ 
CHAP.     X. 

The  Rcafon  of  the  Sulnis  AfilBlons  bsrc*'  - 

A  Further  ufe  which  \vc  mud  make  of  the  prefent 
doftrine  is, -To  inform  us  why  the  people  of 
God  fafTcr  fo  iriiich  in  this  life.  What  wonder  ? 
when  you  fee  their  red  doth  yet  remain  :  they  ar-:  not 
yet  come  to  their  rciling  place.  We  would  all  fain 
have  continual  profperity,  beeaufe  it  is  pleafing  totlie 
jflefh  ;  but  weconfuler  not  the  unreafonablenefs  of  fuch 
defires.  We  are  like  children,  who  if  they  fee  any 
thing  which  their  appetite  defjreth,  C17  for  it ;  and 
if.  you  tell  them  that  it  is  unwholefome,  or  hurtful 
for  them,  they  are  never  the  more  quieted  ;  or  if  you 
go  about  to  heal  any  fore  that  they  have,  they  will 
Rat  endure  youtohurtthem,  though  you  tell  them,  that 
they  cannot  otherwife  be  healed  ;  their  fcnfe  is  too 
flrong  for  their  reafon,  and  therefore  reafon  doth  lit- 
tle perfuade  them.  Even  fo  it  is  with  us  when  God 
is  aifli:l:ing  us  :  he  giveth  us  reafons  why  we  mud 
bear  it,  fo  that  our  reafon  is  oft  convinced  and  fatif- 
fied,  and  yet  we  cry  and  complain  dill:  it  is  not  rea- 
fon, but  eafe  that  we  mud  have  ;  fpiritual  remedies 
may  cure  the  fpirit's  maladies  ;  but  that  will  not  ccn-  : 
tent  the  flefli.  . 

But  methlnks  chviftians  fhould  have  another  palate 
th^:;  \\\  \i  of  the  fiefh,  to  try  and  rclid^  providences  by  : 
Gbd  hath  given  tliem  the  Spirit  to  fubdue  theflcdj. 
/iml  intietore  1  ihall  hcrre  give  them  fome  reaf^^s  of 
God's  deahng  in  their  prefeul  fulferings,  whereby  the 
(^  2.  equity 


10  J 


The  Saints  Everlnjiing  Rc;/l, 


equity  and  mercy  therein  may  appear  :  and  they  (hall" 
be  only  fucli  as  are  drawn  from  the  rtference  that  thefe 
affli(f\!(!KS  have  to  our  roll  ;  which  being  a  chrilllan'8 
h^ppinefs,  and  uhimate  end,  will  direct  hlai  in  judg- 
ing of  ?.ll  eftates  and  means. 

1.  Coriider  tlien,  That  labour  and  trouble  are  the 
common  way  to  reft,  both  in  the  courf'e  of  nature  and 
of  i:^Tace.  Can  there  polTibly  be  rtlt  wiiuout  motion 
and  vveaiinef:>?  Do  you  not  travel  ai.d  toil  Hr(t,  and 
tbf'n  reft  afterv.-nrds  ?  '1  lu-  day  for  kb<'Ur  goes  fii^, 
and  tlicn  the  niglvt  for  reft,  doth  fiHow.  Why  ftionld 
we  dcfire  tlie  conrfc  of  grace  to  be  perverted,  any  more 
than  we  would  do  the  ctjurfe  of  nature  ?  God  did 
once  dry  up  tiie  fea  to  make  a  paflage  for  his  people  ;. 
p.nd  once  made  the  fun  in  the  fi'mament  to  ftand  ftill  : 
but  muft  he  do  fo  aUvays  I  Or  as  oft  as  we  would  have 
}ii  r>  ■■  It  is  his  eliablinied  decree,  That  through  many 
tnbu^Micns  lue  mujl  enter  into  the  k'tngdom  of  heaven* 
A£^s  xiv.  2  2.  And  that  if 'wc  f'^jft^i'  -ivifh  h'lm^  ive  JJoall 
a>Jo  be  goriT-ed  ivilh  him,  2  1  im.  ii.  12.  And  what 
are  we,  thai  God's  ilatutts  fhould  be  reveiftd  for  our 
pkafure  ?  As  Bihiad  h\dio  Job.  Chap,  xviii.  4.  Shalt 
the  earth  be  fo'-faktn  for  thee  r'  or  the  roek  be  removrd  out 
c/  his  place  F  So,  ?/;////  God  pervert  hit  ejjahlifbed.  order  for 
■tkc  P 

2.  Confidcralfo,  That  afflldions  are  exceeding  ufe- 
fill  to  us,  to  keep  us  from  miftaklng  our  refting  place, 
snd  fo  taking  up  fliort  of  it.  A  chriftian's  motion 
heaven-wards  is  voluntary,  and  not  conftraincd.  Thofe 
r.icans  th(  ttfore  are  moil  profitable  to  him,  which  help 
his  uvdcrftanding  and  will  in  tiiis  profecution.  The 
rnorlxbngerous  miftake  that  our  fouls  are  capable  of, 
k,  to  take  the  creature  for  God,  ard  earth  for  hoaven. 
And  yet,  alas,  how  common  is  this !  Though  we  are 
aihamcd  to  fpcak  fo  much  with  our  tongues,  yet  how 
cK  do  our  hearts  fay,  //  is  lejl  bitnghere !  And  how 

contented 


The  Saints  Everlajiing  ReJ}.      1 87 

contented  are  we  with  an  earthlr  p):tion  !  So  that  I 
fcar,  God  would  diTplcafe  moll  of  us  n>ore  to  affli<3: 
us  here,  and  piomife  us  .reft  hereafter,  than  to  give  us 
our  heart;,  dcfire  on  eaith,  though  he  l^.d  never  a;  ide 
us  a  pro  mile  of  heaven.  As  if  the  creature  wiuiout 
God,  were  better  than  God  witliont  the  creature. 
Alas,  how  apt  are  we,  like  foollfn  children,  when  we 
are  biiiy  at  our  fports  and  worldly  employmtnts,  to 
forget  botli  our  father  and  our  home  !  Theiefove  It 
is  a  hard  thing  for  a  rich  man  to  enter  into  hcavrn,  be- 
caufe  it  is  hard  for  him  to  value  it  more  tlian  earthy 
and  not  think  he  is  well  already.  Come  to  a  man  that 
hath  the  world  at  will,  and  tell  him,  This  is  not  your 
happiuefs,  you  have  higher  things  to  look  after;  and 
how  httie  will  he  regard  you  ?  But  when  nfflidlioiT 
comes,  it  fpeaks  convincingly,  a.nd  will  be  heard  when. 
preac!it:s  cannot. 

Sometimes  a  CinczrQ  man  begins  to  be  lifted  np  with 
applaufe  ;  and  fometimes  being  in  health  and  profpe- 
riLy,  he  iiath  lo(l  his  relKh  of  Chrill,  and  the  joys 
above  ;  till  God  break  in  upon  his  riches,  and  fcalter- 
them  abroad,  or  upon  his  children,  or  upon  his  confci- 
encG,  or  upon  the  health  of  his  body,  and  break  down 
his  mount  whicli  he  thought  {"o  llrong  :  and  then  when' 
he  licLu  in  Manajfahh  fettcis,  or  is  faltened  to  his  bed- 
■with. pining  ficknefs,  O  what  an  opportunity  hath  the 
Spirit  to  plead  with  his  foul !  When  the  world  is  wortli 
nothing,  then  heaven  is  worth  fomething. 

How  oft  have  I  been  ready  to  think  myfelf  at  home, 
tin  fickn.fs  hath  roundly  told  me,  I  was  raiilaken  ! 
And  how  apt  yet  to  fall  into  the  fa\ne  difeak,  which 
prevaileth  till  it  be  removed  by  the  fame  cure  !  If  our 
djear  Lord  did  not  pat  thefts  thorns  into  our  bed,  we 
ihould  lleepLOUt  ourlIv«;3,  and  lofe  our  glory. 

q.  Corfidcr^ 


1 58    I  he  Saints  EverlaJIivg  Rcji, 

3.  Confider,  affilclions  arc  God's  mod  efTtftual  ' 
mt.an8,  tokeiptis  from  (Irajrgling  out  of  the  way  to 
our  reft.  If  he  had  not  fct  a  hedge  of  thorns  on  the 
right  hand,  and  ou  the  left,  we  ihould  hatdly  keep  the 
vs»ay  to  htaven  :  if  there  be  but  one  gap  open  without 
theft  thorns,  how  ready  are  we  to  turn  out  at  at  ?  But 
when  we  cannot  go  allray,  but  thefe  thorns  will  prick 
us,  perhaps  we  will  be  content  to  hold  the  way.  Wheiv- 
we  grow  wanton,  or  worldly,  or  proud  ;  what  a  nota- 
ble means  is  ficknefs,  or  other  affliction,  to  reduce 
us?  It  is  every  chridu)!),  as  well  as  Luther^  that  may 
call  afilidion  one  of  his  beil:  fchool-maftcrs.  Many  a 
one,  as  well  as  Daviily  may  fay  by  experience,  Before 
I  was  nffl\8nl  I  ivent  ajlrny^  hut  noiv  hr.ve  J  kept  thy 
p-ecepis.  Many  a  thoufand  poor  recovered  finners  may 
cry,  O  healthful  ficknefs  !  O  comfortable  forrows  !  O 
gainful  lofies  !  O  enriching  poverty  !  O  bleffcd  day, 
that  ever  1  was   afflided  !    It   is  not  only    tht  pJeafjni 

JireamSi  and  the  green  pajluresy  hut  his  rod  and  Ji.-iff  aU 
fo  that  are  cur  comfort.  Though  I  know  it  is  the  word 
and  Spirit  that  do  the  work;  yet  certainly  the  time 
of  fufTering  is  fo  opportune  a  fcafon,  that  the  fame 
word  will  take  them  th.rn,  which  before  Avas  fcarce 
obfeived;  it  dv)ih  fo  unbolt  the  door  of  the  heart,  that 
a  minifler  o>  a  friend  may  then  be  heard,  and  the  word 
rnay  liavs  eafier  entrance  to  the  afftdlions.  ■ 

4.  Confider,  afHidions  are  God's  moft  cfFe£lual 
lueans,  to  make  us  mend  our  pace  in  the  way  to  our 
reft.  They  are  his  rod,  and  his  fpnr  :  what  lluggard 
will  not  awake  and  (lir  when  he  feeleth  them  ?  It  were 
well  if  mere  love  would  prevail  with  us,  and  that  we 
v^cre  rather  drawn  to  heaven,  than  driven  :  but  fee- 
jug  our  hearts  are  fo  bad,  that  mercy  will  not  do  it  j 
it  is  better  we  be  put  on  with  the  fharpeft  fcourge, 
thaa  loiter  out  cur  tin:ic  till  the  doors  are  ihut. 

O  what. 


The  Saints  Everlafting  Rejl,    189 

O  what  a  difference  is  there  betwixt  our  prayers  In 
health  and  in  ficknefs  !  betwixt  our  profptrity  and  ad- 
verfuy-repentings !  He  that  before  had  not  a  teir  to 
fhed,  or  a  groan  to  utter,  now  can  fob,  and  figh,  and 
weep  :  he  that  was  wont  to  lie  like  a  block  in  prayer, 
and  fcarce  minded  what  he  faid  to  Gi^d  :  now  alH'cli- 
on  preffeth  liioi  down,  how  earneftly  can  lie  beg  !  How 
doth  he  mingle  his  prayers  and  his  tears  }  And  cry 
out,  what  a  perfon  he  will  be,  If  G  )d  will  but  hear 
him  and  deliver  hini  !  Alas!  if  we  did  not  fometirncs 
feel  the  fpur,  what  a  flow  pace  would  mod  of  us  hold 
toward  heaven  ! 

Seeing  then  what  our  vile  natures  require,  why 
ihould  wc  be  unwilling  God  fltould  do  ns  good  by  a 
fharp  means  '.  Suje  that  is  the  bell  deallnf*  for  us  witich 
furell  and  foone'l  d'.)th  further  us  for  heaven.  I  leave 
thee,  cliriftian,  to  judge  by  thy  own  experience,  'vhe« 
ther  thou  d-jR  not  go  mjre  w^atchfuijy,  and  lively, 
and  fpeedily  in  tliy  way  to  reft,  in  thy  fufFcrings, 
than  thou  doll  in  thy  more  pleaiing  and  profperous 
Rate. 

Laflly,  confider  Gr>d  doth  feldom  give  his  people 
fo  fweet  a  fore-tafle  of  fhcir  future  reft,  as  in  their 
deep  afilielion?.  He  keepeth  his  moft  precious  cordi- 
als for  the  time  of  our  greateft  faintings  and  dangers. 
God  is  not  fo  lavIHi  of  his  choice  favours  as  to  be- 
flow  them  unfeafonably  :  he  gives  them  at  fo  fie  a 
time,  when  he  knoweth  they  are  needful,  and  will  b3 
valued  ;  and  when  he  is  fure  to  be  thanked  for  them, 
and  his  people  rejoiced  by  them.  Efpecially,  when 
our  fufferlngs  are  m.ore  direftly  for  his  caufe,  thea 
doth  he  feldom  fail  of  fweetening  the  bitter  cup. 
Therefore  have  the  martyrs  been  pofleffors  of  the  high- 
q'\  joys,  and  therefore  v/ere  tliey  fo  ambitious  of  mar- 
tyrdom. I  do  not  think  that  P  I  and  Silas  did  ever 
fing  moje  joyfully,  than    when   they  were   fore  with 

fcourgings, 


1 90     The  Saints  Everlajling  Reji, 

fcourgings,  and  faf^  fn  the  inner  prifon,  witn  their 
feet  in  the  (locks.  When  did  Chrift  preach  fnch  com- 
forts to  his  dlfciples,  and  afTure  them  of  his  provid- 
ing them  n.anfions  with  himftlf,  but  when  he  was 
ready  to  leave  them,  and  their  hearts  were  foirow'ful 
becaufc  oT  his  departure  ?  When  did  he  aj^pear  nm^nj^ 
them,  and  fay,  p'are  be  unto yruy  but  when  they  were 
/hut  up  together  for  fear  of  th  perftcutin^r  Jeti-s  ? 
W'htn  6'n\  Stephen  fee  }»eaven  opentd,  but  %vhtti  he 
was  giving  i:p  his  life  for  the  teilimony  of  Je  us  ? 
And  tliouf^h  wt  be  never  put  to  the  fuiftting  of  mar- 
tyrdom, yet  God  knoweth  that  in  our  natural  fuffeiv 
Ings  we  need  fuppoi  t. 

Seeing  then  t}>at  the  time  of  affilftion,  is  the  time 
of  our  mofV  pure,  fpivitual,  and  heavenly  joy,  for 
the  mnft  part  ;  why  fhould  a  chril\ian  think  it  fo  bad 
a  time  ?  Is  not  tf'.at  our  bcfi  efta^e,  wherein  we  have 
ipo'^  of  God  ?  Why  elfe  do  we  defire  to  come  to 
heaven  ?  If  we  look  for  a  heaven  oF  flcH-sly  delights,, 
we  fludl  nnd  ourfclves  miftaken.  Conclude  then,  that 
afHiclion  is  not  fo  bad  a  (late  in  our  way  to  reft,  aa 
the  flefh  wouai  make  it.  Aie  we  wifer  thrin  God  ? 
I)oth  not  he  know  what  is  good  for  us  better  than 
we  ?  Or  is  he  not  as  careful  of  our  good,  as  we  are 
of  our  own  ?  Ah  wo  to  us  if  he  were  not  much  more  ! 
And  if  he  did  not  love  us  better  than  we  love  either 
bim  or  ourfelves  ! 

But  let  us  hear  a  little  what  it  is  that  we  can  objeft, 

I.  Oh,  faith  one,  1  could  hear  any  other  afHitflion 
fave  this  :  if  God  had  touched  me  in  any  thing  clfe, 
I  could  have  underjrone  it  patiently  ;  but  it  is  my 
dearcfl:  friend,  or  child,  or  wife,  or  my   health  itftlf. 

I  anfwer,  it  feemcth  Cod  hath  hit  the  right  vein, 
w!iere  thy  moLl  iniiamed,  dillempered  blood  did  lie  : 

it 


The  Saints  HverJaJiing  Rejl.     iqi 

it  is  his  condant  courfc  to  pull  down  men's  idols,  and 
take  away  that  which  is  dearer  to  them  than  himfelf. 
There  it  is  that  liis  jealoufy  is  kindled  ;  and  there  it 
is  that  the  foul  is  moll  tndangertd.  If  God  ihould 
have  taken  from  tliee  that  which  thou  canll  let  go  for 
him,  and  not  that  which  thou  canli  not  ;  or  have  af- 
iliclcd  thee  where  thou  canil  bear  it,  and  not  where 
thou  canft  not  ;  thy  idol  would  neither  have  been  dif- 
covered  nor  rt- moved  ;  this  would  neither  have  been  a 
fufiicient  trial  to  thee  nor  a  cure,  but  have  con- 
firmed thee  in  thy  idolatry. 

Objeft.  2.  Oh,  but  faith  another,  if  God  would 
but  deliver  me  out  of  it  at  laft,  I  could  be  content 
to  bear  it  :  but  I  have  an  incurable  ficknefs,  or  I 
am  like  to  live  and  die  in  poverty,  or  difgrace,  or 
diiUefs. 

1  anfwer,  i.  Is  it  ROthing  that  he  hath  promlfed, 
ttjhill  fvork  for  thy  good  ?  J>on.  viii.  28.  and  that  uith 
ih'  afflidion  he  ivtll  rr.ike  a  Tvay  to  efc  pe  r"  that  he  will 
be  with  thee  in  it  ?  and  deliver  thee  in  the  iitteft 
manner  and  feafon  ? 

2.  Is  it  not  enough  that  then  nrt  Aire  to  be  deliv* 
-«red  at  death,  and  that  with  lo  full  a  deliverance  ? 
Oh,  what  curfed  unbelief  doth  this  d'Tcover  in  our 
hearts  !  That  we  would  be  more  thaakful  to  be  turn- 
ed back  again  into  the  ftormy  fea  of  the  world,  than 
to  be  fafely  and  fpeedily  landed  at  our  reft!  And 
would  be  more  glad  of  a  few  years  inferior  mercies  at 
a  diilance,  than  to  enter  upon  the  eternal  inheritance 
\vith  Chrift  !  Do  we  call  God  our  chief  good,  and 
heaven  our  happinefs  ?  and  yet  is  It  no  mercy  or  de- 
liv-rnnce  to  be  taken  hence,  and  put  into  that  pof<» 
icflion  ? 

Objea, 


192    The  Saints  EverlaJJing  Rc/l. 

ObjeA.  3.  Oh,  but  faith  another,  if  my  affliftiod 
did  not  difable  me  for  duty,  I  could  bear  it ;  but  it 
maketh  me  ufelcfs  and  utterly  unprofitable. 

Anfw.  I.  For  that  duty  which  tendeth  to  thy  own 
benefit,  it  doth  not  difable  thee  ;  but  is  the  greattft 
help  that  thou  canft  exped.  Thou  ufeft  to  complain 
of  coldnefs,  and  dulnefs,  and  worldlinefs,  and  fecuri- 
ty  :  if  afflidion  will  not  help  thee  againft  all  thefe, 
by  warning,  quickening,  rouzing  thy  fpirit,  I  know 
not  what  will.  Suie  tliou  wilt  repent  throughly,  and 
pray  fervently,  and  mind  God  and  heaven  more  fe- 
lioufly,  either  now  or  never. 

2.  As  for  duty  to  others,  and  fervlcc  to  the  church, 
it  is  not  thy  duty  when  God  doth  difable  thee.  He 
may  call  thee  out  of  the  vineyard  in  this  refped,  even 
befjie  he  call  thee  by  death.  If  he  lay  thee  in  the 
grave,  and  put  others  in  thy  place  is  this  any  wrong 
to  thee  ?  So  if  he  call  th  e  out  bef  re  thy  death,  and 
fet  others  to  do  the  work,  fhould  thou  not  be  as  well 
content  ?  Muft  God  do  all  the  work  by  tiiet  ?  Hath 
he  not  many  others  as  dear  to  him,  and  as  fit  for  the 
employment  ?  But  alas,  what  deceitfulnefs  licth  in 
thefe  hearts  !  When  we  have  time,  and  health,  and 
oppoitunity  to  work,  then  we  loiter,  and  do  our 
Mafter  but  poor  fervice  :  but  when  he  layeth  affli6^i- 
on  upon  us,  then  we  complain  that  he  difableth  us  for 
his  work,  and  yet  perhaps  we  are  Hill  negligent  in 
that  part  of  the  work  which  we  can  do.  So,  when 
we  are  in  health  and  profperity,  we  forget  the  public, 
and  are  carelefs  of  other  men's  miftiies  and  wants,  and 
mind  almoll  nothing  but  ourfelves  ;  but  when  God 
afflidleth  us,  though  he  excite  U8  more  to  duty  for  our- 
felves, yet  we  complain  that  he  difableth  us  for  our 
duty  to  others:  as  if  on  a  fudden  we  were  grown  fo 
charitable,  that  we  regard  other  men's  fouls  more  than 
gur  own  !  But  is  not  the  hand  of  llefh  in  all  this  dif- 

fimulation; 


The  Saints  Ever la/l big  R'^/J,    153 

mulation,  pleading  its  own  caufe  ?  What  pride  of 
heart  is  this,  to  think  that  other  men  cannot  do  the 
work  as  well  as  v/e  !  Or  that  God  cannot  iee  to  his 
church,  and  provide  foi  his  people,  witliout  U3  ! 

Objefl.  4.  Oh,  but  faith  another,  it  Is  my  friends 
that  are  my  afflict ers  :  they  difclaim  me,  and  will  fcarqe 
look  at  me  :  they  ccnfure  me,  and  backbite  me,  and 
Jlander  me,  and  look  upon  me  with  a  difduinful  eye  ; 
iTit  were  others,  I  could  bear  it,  1  look  for  no  belter 
from  them  :  but  when  thofe  that  are  my  dt. light,  and 
that  I  louked  for  comfort  and  refrething  fiom,  when 
thofe  are  as  thorns  in  my  fides,  who  can  bear  it  ? 

Anfw.  I.  Whoever  is  the  inftrumfnt,  the  affiictit)?* 
is  from  God,  and  the  provoking  caufe  from  thyGIf ; 
and  \vc:e  It  not  fitter  that  ihoa  look  mcie  lo  God 
and   thyfelf? 

2.  Doft  thou  not  know,  that  good  men  are  ilili  fin» 
ful  in  part  ?  and  that  their  hearts  are  naturally  deceit- 
ful and  defperately  wicked,  as  well  as  others  ?  Learn 
therefore  abetter  X^^ow  from  the  prophet,  Mich.  vii. 
5,   6,    7.      Trifjl  not  (too  muck)  in  a  iHend^  nn-  put  con^ 

Jidtnce  in  a  guide  :  keep  the  doors  of  thy  monlh  frm  her 
that  I'uth  in  thy  bofom  :  hat  look  rather  for  the  Lord,  ami 
nu  ait  for  the  God  of  thy  fat  oat  ion, 

3.  It  Is  likely  thou  haft  given  that  love  and  truft  to 
men,  which  was  due  only  to  God  ;  or  which  thou 
haft  denied  him:  and  then  no  wonder  if  he  chaftlfe 
thee  by  them.  If  we  would  ufe  oui  fi  lends  as  friends, 
God  would  make  them  our  helps  and  comforts  ;  but 
when  once  we  make  them  our  gods,  by  exceflive  Iovg 
and  truft,  then  he  fuffers  them  to  be  our  accufers  and 
tormentors  :  it  Is  more  fafe  to  me  to  have  any  crea- 
ture a  fatan  than  a  g(;d  :  to  be  tormented  by  them 
than  to  idolize  thtm.     Till  thou  haft  learned  to  fuffer 

R  from 


1 94      77?^  Saints  Everlafting  Refl. 

from  the  good,  as  well  as  the  ungodly,  never  look  to 
live  a  cor.tcnted  or  comfortable  life,  nor  ever  think 
thou  hail  truly  le?.rncd  the  art  offuftering. 

Obje£l.  5.  Oh  but  if  I  had  that  confolation,  which 
you  fay  God  refeiveth  /or  our  fuffering  times,  I 
fhould  fufFer  more  contentedly  :  but  1  do  not  perceive' 
any  fuch  thing. 

Anfw.  I.  The  more  you  fiiffer  for  righteoufnefs- 
fake,  the  more  of  this  blefling  you  may  expeft  ;  and 
the  more  you  fufFer  for  your  ow^n  evil  doing,  the 
longer  you  muft  look  to  flay  till  that  fvi'eetncfs  come. 
When  we  have  by  our  folly  provoked  God  to  chaflifc 
us,  fhall  we  prefently  look  that  he  fliould  fill  us  with 
comfort?  *'  That  were  (as  Mr.  Paul  Bayn  faith;  to 
«  make  affiiftion  to  be  no  affliction."  What  good 
\vould  the  bitternefs  do  us,  if  it  be  prefently  di owned 
in  that  fweetncfs  ?  It  is  well  in  fuch  fufFerings,  if  you 
have  but  fupporting  grace;  and  if  your  fufferings  are 
fancliiied  to  work  out  your  fin. 

2.  Do  you  not  ntgledl  or  refifl  the  comforts  which 
you  defire  }  God  hath  filled  precepts  and  promifes, 
and  other  of  his  providences,  with  matter  of  comfort  : 
if  you  overlook  all  thefe,  and  obferve  one  crofs  more 
than  a  thoufand  mercies,  who  maketh  you  uncomfort- 
able but  yourfelves  ?  If  you  refolve  you  will  not  be 
comfortable  as  long  as  any  thing  aileth  your  flefli,  you 
may  ftay  till  death  before  you  have  comfort. 

3.  Have  your  affiiftions  wrought  kindly  v^'Ith  you 
and  fitted  you  for  comfurt  ?  Have  they  humbled  you, 
and  brought  you  to  a  faithful  confeffion  and  reforma- 
tion of  your  beloved  fin  i  and  made  you  fct  clofc  to 
your  neglected  duties  ?  and  weaned  your  hearts  from 
their  former  idols  ?  and  brought  them  unfeignedly  to 
take  God  for  their  portion  and  their  reft  .^  If  this  be 

not 


The  Saints  Everlafling  Reft.     195 

■iiof  dane,  how  can  you  expett  comfort  ?  Should  God 
bind  up  the  fore  while  it  feltereth  at  the  bottom  ?  It  is 
not  mere  fuffering  that  prepares  you  for  comfort  ;  but 
the  fucccfs  and  fruit  of  fuffcring  upon  your  hearts. 

CHAP.    XL 

All  Exhortation  to  thofe  that  have  got  AJfur- 
ance  of  this  Rejl^  that  they  ivould  do  all 
they  pojfibly  can  to  help  others  to  it* 


H 


ATH  God  fct  before  us  fuch  a  gloiious  piize 
_^  .^  as  this  everlafling  Reft,  and  made  man  capable 
of  fuch  an  inconceivable  happinefs  ?  Why  then  do  not: 
all  tlie  children  of  this  kingdom  bellir  themielvc-s  move 
to  help  others  to  the  enjoyment  of  it  ?  .-^las,  how  lit- 
tle are  poor  fouls  about  us,  b'jholden  to  the  moft  of  us  ! 
We  fee  the  glory  of  the  kincrdom,  and  they  do  not  : 
we  fee  the  mifery  and  torment  of  thofe  that  mifs  of  it, 
and  they  do  nut  :  we  ft^e  them  wandering  quite  out  of 
tlie  way,  and  know  if  they  hold  on,  tiiey  can  nevei* 
come  there  ;  and  they  diicern  not  this  themfelves. 
And  yet  we  will  not  fet  upon  them  fcrioufly,  and  n:e\v 
them  their  danger  and  eiror,  and  lielp  to  bring  thein 
into  the  way  that,  they  may  live.  Ala5,  how  few 
chriftians  are  there  to  be  found,  that  live  as  men  that 
are  made  to  do  good,  and  that  fet  themfelves  with  all 
their  miirht  to  the  faving  of  fouls  !  No  thanks  to  us  if 
heaven  be  not  empty,  and  if  the  fouls  of  our  brethren 
perilh  not  for  ever. 

But  becaufe  this  is  a  duty  which  fo  many  negleft, 
and  fo  few  are  convinced  that  God  doth  expect  it  at 
their  hands,  and  yet  a  duty  of  fo  high  concernment: 
to  the  glory  of   God,  and   the  happinefs  of  men  ;   I 

will 


196     The  Saints  Ever  la/ling  ReJ}, 

will  fpeak  of  it  fomewhat  the  more  largely,  and  fhew 
you,  I.  Whcrtfin  it  doth  confift.  2.  What  is  the 
caufe  that  it  is  fo  neglcdid.  3.  Give  feme  confide- 
rations  to  pcrfuade  yon  to  the  performance  of  it,  and 
otherG  to  the  bearing  of  It.  4.  A ppl)^  this  more  par- 
ticularly to  fome  perfons  whom  it  doth  nearly  con- 
cern. 

I.  I  would  have  you  well  underftand  what  is  this 
work  which  1  am  peifuading  you  to.  Know  then  on 
the  litgatlvc. 

1.  It  is  not  to  Invade  the  office  of  thcmlnlftry,  and 
every  man  to  turn  a  public  pieacher.  I  would  not 
have  you  go  beyond  the  bounds  of  your  cabing  :  we 
fee  by  daily  experience,  what  fruits  thofe  men*s  teach- 
ing doth  bring-  forth,  who  run  uncalled  of  God,  and 
thnift  their.fclves  into  the  place  of  public  teachers, 
thinking  thcmfelvcs  the  fitteft  for  the  work  in  the 
pride  of  their  hearts,  while  they  had  need  to  be  taught 
the  very  principles  of  religion  :  how  little  doth  God 
blefs  the  labours  of  thefe  felf-conceited  intruders,  even 
if  they  be  ordained  ! 

2.  Neither  do  I  perfuade  you  to  a  zealous  promoting 
of  frftions  and  parties,  and  venting  of  uncertain  opi- 
nions, which  men's  falvation  is  little  concerned  in. 
Alas,  what  advantage  iiaih  the  devil  always  got  in  the 
church  by  this  impollure  !  The  time  that  fhould  be 
employed  in  drawing  men's  fouls  from  fin  to  Chrift,  is 
cmplctytd  in  drawing  them  to  opinions  and  parties  : 
when  men  are  fallen  in  love  with  their  ovi-n  conceits, 
and  think  themfelves  the  wifeft,  how  diligently  do 
they  labouj  10  get  them  tollowtrs  ?  as  if  to  make  a 
man  aprofflyteto  their  opinions,  wee  as  happy  a 
work  as  to  convert  bini  to  Chriit  !  and  when  they  fall 
among  the  lij^hter,  ignorant  fort  of  men,  whofe  reli- 
gion is  all  in  the  brain,  and  on  their  tongue,  they 

(sldom 


The  Saints  Everlafthig  Rejl.     1 97 

ftldom  fail  of  fiiccefs.  Thefe  men  (liall  fhortly  know, 
that  to  bring  a  man  to  the  knowledge  and  love  of 
Chriil,  is  another  kind  of  work  than  to  bring  him  to 
be  baptized  again,  or  to  be  of  fuch  a  church,  or  fuch 
a  fide.  Unhappy  are  the  fouls  tliat  are  taken  in  their 
fnare  ;  who  when  they  have  fpent  their  lives  in  con- 
tending for  the  circumftantials  of  religion,  which 
fhould  have  been  fpent  in  ftudying  and  loving  the 
Lord  Jefus,  do  in  the  end  reap  an  empty  harvcit, 
fuitable  to  their  empty  profelTion. 

3.  Nor  do  1  perfuade  you  to  fpeak  againft  men's 
faults  behind  their  backs,  and  be  filent  before  their 
faces,  as  the  common  cuftom  of  the  world  is.  To 
tell  other  men  of  their  faults,  tendeth  little  to  their 
reformation,  if  they  hear  It  not  thcmfelves.  To 
w  hifper  men's  faults  to  others,  as  it  comcth  not  frotn 
love,  or  from  an  honeft  principle,  fo  ufually  doth  it 
produce  no  good  efFecTi :  for  if  the  party  hear  not  of 
it,  it  cannot  better  him  ;  if  he  do,  he  will  take  it  but 
as  the  reproach  of  an  enemy,  and  not  as  the  faithful 
counfel  of  a  friend,  and  as  that  which  is  fpoken  to  make 
him  odious,  and  not  to  make  him  virtuous  ;  it  tend- 
eth not  to  provoke  to  godlinefs,  but  to  raife  conten- 
tion ;  for  a  'wh'ifperer  feparaielh  chief  friends.  And 
how  few  fnall  wc  find  that  make  conlcience  of  this 
horrible  fin  ?  or  that  will  confefs  it,  and  bewail  it,' 
when  tliey  are  reprehended  for  it  ?  efpeci?lly  if  men 
are  fpeaking  of  their  enemies,  or  thofe  that  have 
wronged  them  ;  or  whom  they  fuppofe  to  have  wrong- 
ed them,  or  if  it  be  of  one  that  eclipfeth  their  glory, 
or  that  llandeth  iu  the  way  of  their  gain  or  efteem  :  or 
if  it  be  one  that  differeth  from  them  in  judgment  ;  or 
of  one  that  is  commonly  fpoke  againft  by  others  ;  who 
is  it  that  maketh  any  confcience  of  backbiting  fuch  as 
thefe  ?  And  you  (hall  ever  obferve,  that  the  forward- 
er they  are  to  backbiting,  the  more  backward  always 
^  faithful  admonilhing  ;  and  none,  fpeak  lefs  of  a 
R  2  man'sL 


1 98-    The  Scents  Ever  la/ling  Rcji. 

man's  faults  to  his  face,  than  rhoft;  that  fpeak  moli  of 
them  behind  his  back. 

So  far  am  I  from  pcrfuading  therefore  to  this  pre- 
pofterous  courfc,  that  I  v.'ould  advife  you  to  oppofe  it 
wherever  you  meet  with  it.  See  that  you  never  hear 
a  man  fpeaking  againft  his  neighbour  behind  his  back 
(\vlthoi!t  fome  fpecial  caufe  or  call)  but  prefently  re- 
buke him  ;  ailv  him,  whether  he  hath  fpoke  ihofc 
things  in  a  way  of  h)ve  to  hio  face  ?  if  he  hath  not 
afl-c  hin,  how  lie  dare  to  pervert  God's  pi cfcribed  or- 
der, who  commandeth  to  rebuke  our  neighbour  plain- 
ly, ar^t  to  tell  him  his  fault  firft  in  private,  and  then 
before  witnefi;,  till  he  fee  whether  he  will  be  won, 
or  not  ?  And  how  he  dare  do  as  he  would  not  be 
done  by  ? 

The  duty  therefore  that  I  would  prefs  you  to  is  of 
another  nature,  and  it  coniiileth  in  thefe  things  fol- 
lowing : 

*  « 

1.  That  you  get  youf"  hearts  affected  with  tlie  mife- 
ry  of  your  butlnen's  fouls  :  be  companionate  towards 
them  ;  yearn  after  theiir  falvation.  If  you  did  earnell- 
ly  long  after  their  converfion,  and  your  hearts  were 
fully  fet  to  do  tliem  good,  it  would  let  you  on  work, 
and  God  would  uluaiiy  blcfs  it. 

2.  Take  all  Opportunities  that  poflibly  you  can,  to 
inftrufl  and  help  them  to  the  attaining  of  falvation. 
i^nd  lell  you  fhould  not  know  how  to  manage  this 
work,  let  mettllyou  moie  particularly  what  you  are 
herein  to  do.  i.  If  it  be  an  ignorant  pcrfcn  you  have 
to  deal  with,  who  is  an  utter  ftj anger  to  the  myfieries 
of  religion,  and  to  the  woik  of  regeneration,  the  firft 
thing  you  have  to  do,  is,  to  acquaint  him  with  thefe 
do(!:\rines :  labour  to  make  him  underlhuid  wherein 
man's  chief  happiatis  dolh  conriil  j  and  how  far  he 

was 


The  Sain's  EvsrlaJIhig  Rejl,     igc) 

was  once  poflelTed  of  it  ;  and  what  law  atid  covenant 
God  then  madtr  with  him  ;  and  how  he  broke  it  ;  and. 
what  penalty  he  tncjned,  and  what  mifcry  he  bro.ight 
himfelf  into  thereby  :  teach  liim  what  need  men  had 
of  a  Redeemer  ;  and  how  Chrilt  in  mercy  did  inter- 
pofe,  and  bear  t!ie  penalty  ;  and  what  covenant  now 
he  hath  made  with  man  ;  and  on  what  terms  only  fid- 
vation  is  now  to  be  attained  ;  and  what  courfe  Chrill 
takcth  to  draw  men  to  himfelf;  and  what  are  the 
riches  and  pi  ivileges  that  believers  have  in  him. 

If  when  he  underftands  thefe  things,  he  be  not  mov- 
ed by  ihem  ;  or  if  you  find  that  the  ftop  lieth  in  his 
will  and  affe<£lions,  and  in  the  hardnefs  of  his  heart, 
and  in  the  interell  that  the  fltfli  and  the  world  liavegot 
in  him  ;  then  fhew  him  the  excellency  of  the  glojy 
which  he  negleActh,  and  the  intolcrLblenefs  ofthelols 
Oi  it,  and  tlie  extremity  and  eternity  of  tlie  torments  of 
the  dnmntd,  and  haw  certainly  they  rouft  cndm-e  them  ; 
and  how  jull  it  is  for  their  wilful  refufals  of  grace  ; 
and  !iow  heinous  a  !in  it  is  to  reject  fnch  free  and  abun- 
dant mercy,  and  to  tread  iinOer  foot  the  blood  of  the 
covenant  ;  fnew  him  the  certainty,  ncarnefs  and  terrors 
of  death  and  judgment,  and  the  vanity  of  all  things 
belov.',  which  now  he  is  taken  up  with  ;  and  how  lit- 
tle they  uili  beliead  him  in  that  time  of  his  extremity. 
Shew  him  that  by  nature  he  himfelf  is  a  child  of  wrath, 
an  enemy  to  God  ;  and  by  a6tualfjn  much  m.oie  :  Hiew 
him  the  vile  and  heinous  nature  of  fin  ;  the  abfolute 
necelTity  he  Itandeth  in  of  a  Saviour  ;  the  freenefs  of  the 
ptomife  ;  iht.  fulntfs  of  Chrift  ;  the  fufficicncy  of  liis 
falisiaiStion  ;  his  readinefs  to  receive  all  that  are  wil- 
ling to  be  his;  and  the  authority  and  dominion  which 
he  hath  purchafed  over  us  ;  fliewhim  alfo  the  abfolute 
iiecciTity  ol  regeueration,  faith  and  holinefs,  how  im- 
poffibk  it  is  to  have  falvation  by  Chrilt  withcuit  thefe  ; 
aud  wbal  they  are,  and  the  Irue  nature  of  them. 

If 


^oo    77?^  Saints  Everlq/llng  Rejl, 

If  when  lie  iinderftandeth  all  this*,  you  find  his  foul 
enthralled  in  falfe  hopes,  perfuading  hi'mfelf  that  he 
is  a  true  bch^  V'.r.  and  pardoutd,  and  reconciled,  and 
fhall  be  faved  by  ChriH:,  and  all  this  upon  falfe  grounds, 
(which  is  a  comiiion  cafe)  tiien  urge  liim  hard  to  exa- 
mine his  ftate,  (hew  him  the  nectflity  of  trying  ;  the 
danger  of  being  decfived  ;  the  commonnefs  and  eafi- 
nefs  of  miftaking  thnnigh  the  deceitfulnefs  of  the 
heart ;  the  extreme  madnefs  of  puttingitto  a  blind  ven- 
ture ;  or  of  reftiug  in  negligent  or  wilful  uncertainty  : 
help  him  in  trying  himfclf  :  produce  fome  undeniable 
evidences  from  fcripture  ;  all^  him,  wliethei  thefe  be  in 
him  or  not  ?  Whether  ever  he  found  fuch  workings  or 
difpolitions  in  his  heart?  Urge  him  to  a  rational  an- 
fwer  :  do^ot  leave  him  till  yuu  have  convinced  him 
of  his  mifery  ;  and  then  feafonably  and  wifely  flicw 
him  the  remedy. 

If  hcproduces  fome  gifts,  or  duties,  or  work,  know 
to  what  end  he  doth  produce  them  :  if  to  join  with 
Chiifi:  in  compofing  him  a  righteoufnefs,  fhew  him 
how  vain  and  deltru^tive  they  are  :  if  it  be  by  way  of 
evidence  to  prove  his  title  to  Chrilt  ;  fhew  him  where- 
in the  life  of  chrillianity  doth  confili,  and  how  far  he 
mud  go  further,  If  he  will  be  Chrlii'a  difciple.  In  the 
mean  time,  that  he  be  not  difcouraged  with  hearing- 
of  fo  high  a  meafure,  fhew  him  the  way  by  which  he 
mull  attain  it :  be  fure  to  draw  lu'm  to  the  ufe  of  all 
means  :  fet  him  on  hearing  and  reading  the  word,  call- 
ing upon  God,  accompanying  the  godly  :  perfuade 
him  to  leave  his  accual  hn,  and  to  get  out  of  all  ways 
©f  temptation  ;  efpecially  to  forfake  ungodly  compa- 
ny ;  and  to  wait  patic  ntly  on  God  In  the  ule  of  means  ; 
a«d  (hew  him  the  ftrong  hopes  that  in  fo  doing  he  may 
have  a  blcffing  ;  this  'i)eing  the  way  that  God  will  be 
fbuiid  in. 

If 


The  Saints  Everlapan^  Refl.    2ci 

7f  yaii  perceive  him  pofTeffcd  with  any  pvejnJiccs 
agafnll  the  way  of  holinefs,  fticw  him  their  falfe- 
hood,  and  with  wifdom  and  mceknefs  anfwer  his  ob- 
jedions. 

If  he  be  addicted  to  delay  duties  he  is  convinced  of, 
or  hizincfs  and  Itupidity  endanc  rhis  foul,  tlien  lay  it 
on  mo'-e  powerfully,  and  fet  home  upon  his  heart  the 
moft  piercing  conii  Jerations,  and  labour  to  faftcn  them 
as  thorns  in  his  confciencc,  that  he  may  find  no  cafe  or 
reft  till  he  change  his  ellate. 

But  becaufe  in  all  works  the  manner  of  doing  them 
is  of  greatcll  moment,  and  the  riglit  pciformance  doth 
much  further  the  fucctls  ;  I  will  here  adjoin  a  ffw  di- 
re(^lions,  which  you  muft  be  Aire  to  obferve  in  thi^ 
work  <if  exhortation  ;  for  it  is  not  every  advice  tint 
uftth  to  fiiccted,  nor  any  manner  of  doing  it  that  will 
ferve  the  turn.      Obferve  therefore  thefe  rules  : 

r.  Set  upon  the  work  fincercly,  and  with  ri^ht  in- 
tentions. Let  thy  end  be  the  glory  of  God  in  the 
party's  falvation.  Do  it  not  to  get  a  name  or  efteem 
to  thyftlf ;  or  to  briuj^r  men  to  depend  upon  thee  ; 
or  to  get  thee  many  followers  :  df)  not  as  many  pa- 
rents and  matters  will  do,  vix,.  rtbiike  their  chiMren 
and  fervants  for  thofe  fins  that  difplcafe  them,  and  are 
agaiufl  their  profit  or  ibt^»r  humoars,  as  difobeditnce, 
uruhrifiinefs,  uiimannerlinefs  ;  but  never  ftek  in  the 
right  w^ay  that  God  hath  appointed  to  fave  their 
fouls.  But  be  fure,  the  main  end  be  to  recover  them 
from  mifery,  and  bring  them  into  the  way  of  eternal 
reft. 

2.  Do  it  fpeedlly  ;  as  you  would  not  have  them  de- 
lav  their  return,  fo  do  not  thou  delay  to  feek  their  re- 
turn. You  are  purpoHniT  long  to  fpeak  to  fuch  aa 
ignorant  neighbour,    and  to  deal  with  fuch  a  fcanda^ 

luu& 


202     The  Saints  Everlajl'ing  Reft. 

Ions  finner,  and  yet  you  have  never  done  it.  Alas, 
lie  runs  on  the  fcore  all  this  while  ;  he  goes  deeper  in 
debt  ;  wrath  is  heaping  up  ;  fin  taketh  rooting  :  cuf« 
torn  doth  more  faften  him  ;  engagements  to  fin  grow 
flronger  and  more  numerous  ;  confcience  grows  fear- 
ed ;  the  heart  grows  hardened  ;  while  you  delay,  the 
devil  rules  and  rejoiceth  ;  Chn'ft  is  fhut  out  ;  the  Spi- 
rit is  repiilfed  ;  God  is  daily  difhonoured  ;  liis  law 
is  violated  ;  he  is  without  a  fervant,  and  that  fervice 
from  him  which  he  fliould  have  ;  time  runs  on  ;  the 
day  (jf  vifitation  hallcth  ;  death  and  judgment  are  at 
the  door:  and  what  if  the  man  die  and  mifs  of  hea- 
ven, while  you  are  purpofing  to  teach  him  and  htlp 
him  to  it  ?  If  in  cafe  of  his  bodily  diftrefs,  you  mud 
not  bid  him  go  and  come  again  to-morrow,  when 
you  have  it  by  you  ;  how  much  Icfs  may  you  delay 
the  fuccour  of  his  foul?  if  once  death  fnatch  him  away 
he  is  then  ovX  of  the  reach  of  your  charity.  That 
phyfician  is  no  better  than  a  murderer,  that  negligent- 
ly delayeth,  till  his  patient  be  dead  or  pad  cure.  De- 
lay in  duty  is  a  great  degree  of  difobcdience,  though 
you  afterwards  perform  it.  It  fhews  an  ill  heart  that 
is  indifpofed  to  the  work.  O  how  many  a  poor  fin- 
ner peiiHu'th  or  grows  I'ooted,  and  next  to  incurable 
in  fin,  while  we  are  purpofiug  to  feck  their  recovery  ! 
Opportunities  hd  not  always.  When  thou  beared 
that  the  finner  is  dead,  or  removed,  or  grown  obfti- 
nate  ;  will  not  confcience  fay  to  thee,  how  knowtd 
thou  but  thou  miglitePc  have  prevented  the  damnation 
of  a  foul  ?  Lay  by  excnfes  then,  and  all  lefTer  bufinefs, 
an {1  ..obey  God's  command,  exhort  one  another  daily, 
nvhile'if  is  ca-'ed  to- day ^  lejl  any  he  hardened  through  the 
diceiifwntfs  of  Jin. 

3.  Let  thy  exhortation  proceed  from  compaflion 
and  love,  and  let  the  manner  of  it  clearly  diew  the 
perfon  thou  deaielt  with,  that  it  does.  It  is  not  jeer- 
ii\^i  or  fcorning,  or  reproaching  a  man  for  his  faulty 

that 


The  Saints  Everlajling  Reji.    203 

that  IS  a  likely  way  to  work  his  reformation  :  nor  I'g 
it  the  right  way  to  convert  him  to  God,  to  rail  at 
him,  and  vlUify  him  with  words  of"  difgrace.  Men 
will  take  them  for  their  enemies  that  thus  deal  with 
them  :  and  the  words  of  an  enemy  are  little  perfund- 
ing.  Lay  by  yourpaflion  therefore,  and  go  to  poor 
finners  with  tears  in  your  eyes,  that  they  may  fee  you 
indeed  believe  them  to  be  mifcrable  ;  and  that  you  un- 
feignedly  pity  their  cafe  :  d'jal  with  them  with  earn- 
ed humble  entreatings.  Let  thtm  fee  that  your  very 
bowels  yearn  over  them,  and  that  it  is  the  very  dcfire 
©f  your  hearts  to  do  them  good  :  let  them  perceive 
that  you  have  no  other  end  but  the  procuring  tlieir 
everlafting  happinefs  ;  and  that  it  is  your  fenfe  of  their 
danger,  and  your  love  to  their  fouls  that  forces  you 
to  fpeak  ;  even  becaufe  you  know  the  terrors  of  the 
Lord,  and  for  fear  left  you  fhould  fee  them  in  eternal 
torments.  Say  to  them.  Why,  friend,  you  know  it 
i-3  no  advantage  of  my  own  that  1  fcek.  The  way  to 
pleafe  you,  and  to  keep  your  friendHiip,  were  to 
footh  you  in  your  own  way,  or  to  let  you  alone  ;  but 
love  will  not  fuffer  me  to  fee  you  perifli,  and  be  fi- 
lent  ;  I  feek  nothing  at  your  hands,  but  that  which 
is  neceffary  to  your  own  happinefs.  It  is  yourfelf 
that  will  have  the  gain  and  comfort,  if  you  come  in 
to  Chrift.  If  men  would  thus  go  to  every  ignorant 
wicked  neighbour  they  have,  and  thus  deal  with  them, 
O  what  bleffedfiuit  fhould  we  quickly  fee  ! 

I  am  afliamed  to  hear  fome  lazy  hypocritical 
wretches  revile  their  poor  ignorant  neighbours,  and 
feparate  from  their  company,  and  judge  them  unfit 
for  their  fociety,  bcfoie  ever  they  once  tried  them 
with  this  companionate  exhortation  !  O  you  little 
know  what  a  prevailing  courfe  this  were  like  to 
prove  !  And  how  few  of  the  vileft  drunkards  or  fwear- 
ers  would  prove  fo  obftinate,  as  wholly  to  rejeft  or 
•dcfpife  the  exhortations  of  love  !  1  know  It  mull  be 

God 


i 


i  . 


\ 


204   77je  Saints  Everlajling  Rejl. 

God  that  muft  change  men's  hearts  ;  but  I  know  alfo 
that  God  worketh  by  means,  and  when  he  meaneth 
to  prevail  with  men,  he  ufually  fittcth  the  means  ac- 
cordingly, and  (lirreth  up  men  to  plead  with  them  in 
a  prevailing  way,  and  fo  fcttcth  in  with  his  grace, 
andmakcth  it  fuccefsful.  Certainly,  thofe  that  have 
tried  can  tell  you  by  experience,  that  there  is  no  way 
fo  prevailing  with  men,  as  the  way  of  compaffion  and 
love  80  much  of  ihefe  as  they  difccrn  in  your  ex- 
hortation, iifuallv  fo  much  doth  it  fucceed  with  their 
hearts  :  and  therefore  I  beftech  thofe  that  are  faith- 
ful, to  pradife  this  courfe.  Alas,  we  fee  moft  peo- 
ple among  us,  yea  thofe  that  would  feem  godly,  can- 
not bear  a  reproof  that  comes  not  in  meekncfs  and 
love  !  if  there  be  the  leafl:  paffion,  or  rtlifh  of  difgracc 
in  It,  they  are  ready  to  fplt  in  your  face.  Yea,  if 
yon  do  not  fweeten  your  reproof  with  fair  words, 
they  cannot  digeft  it.  but  their  heart  will  rife  up  a- 
gainft  you,  inftead  of  a  thankful  fubmiflion  and  a  re- 
formation. O  that  it  were  not  too  evident  that  the 
Phaiifee  is  yet  alive  in  the  bualls  of  many  thoufands 
that  fcem  religious,  even  in  this  one  point  of  bear- 
ing plain  and  (liarp  reprocf !  They  bimt  heavy  hurdtns 
and  grievous  to  he  borne^  and  lay  them  on  mifn'jjhoulders  ; 
hut  they  themfehcs  -will  not  move  them  with  one  of  their 
Jingers,  Matt,  xxlii.  4.  So  far  are  they  from  doing,, 
in  this,  as  they  would  be  done  by. 

4.  Another  direfilon  I  would  give  you,  is  this  :  do 
it  with  all  pcffible  plalnnefs  and  faithfulnefs.  Do 
not  dally  with  men,  and  hide  fiom  them  their  mifery 
or  danger,  or  any  part  of  it.  Do  not  make  their  fini 
lefs  than  they  are  ;  nor  fpeak  of  them  in  extenuating 
lang^uage  Do  not  encourage  tliem  in  a  falfe  hope, 
no  more  than  you  would  difcourage  the  fond  hopes 
of  the  righteous.  If  you  fee  his  cafe  dangerous,  tell 
him  plainly  of  it  :  Neighbour,  I  am  afraid  God  hath 
not  yet  renewed  your  foul ;  and  that  it  is  yet  a  ftran- 

ger 


The  Saints  Everlafling  RcJ!,    205 

ger  to  the  great  work  of  regeneration  and  fanflihca- 
tion  :  I  doubt  you  are  not  yet  recovered  from  the 
power  of  Satan  to  God,  nor  brought  out  of  the  Hate 
of  wrath  which  you  were  born  m^  and  have  lived  in  i 
I  doubt  you  have  not  chofen  Chrill  above  all,  nor  fet 
yoi:r  heart  upon  him^  nor  unfei^^nedly  taken  him  for 
your  fovcreigii  Lord.  If  you  had,  inieyou  d.urit  not 
fo  eafi'y  difobty  him:  you  could  not  fo  ncgleci  liim 
and  his  worfhip  ii-i  your  fam-ily  and  irt  public  :  you 
Gonld  not  fo  eagerly  follow  the  world,  and  tnlk  of  al- 
moll  nothing  but  tiie  things  of  this  world,  v^hile  Chrift 
is  feldom  meiitioned  by  you.  If  you  were  \\x  Chrill, 
you  vvo'-'.ld  become  a  new  creature  ;  old  things  would 
be  pafTcd  away,  and  all  things  would  become  new  : 
you  would  have  new  thoughts,  and  new  talk,  and  new 
company,  and  new  endeavours,  and  a  new  convcrfa- 
tion  :  certainly  without  thefe  you  can  never  be  favcd  : 
you  may  think  otherwife,  and  hope  better  as  long  as 
you  will,  but  your  hopes  will  deceive  you,  and  peiifh 
with  you.  Alas  !  it  is  not  as  you  will,  nur  a^  i  will, 
who  Hiall  be  faved,  but  it  is  as  God  will  ■■,  and  God 
hath  told  us,  tiiat  tvith^r.ii  hoUrmfs  noK?  j%iU pe  him  : 
and  (xrcpt  zue  be  born  (i^iainy  'wc  canut  cnUr  i/!fo  his 
I'lngJoni,  And  that  all  th  !t  'would  not  hive  Chrijl  to 
rs'ign  over  them^  /haU  be  brought  forth  cind  de!}r'^ycdhi'forz 
h'lm  :   O  thcrefoie  look  to  your  IL;te  in  time. 

Thus  muft  you  deal  roundly  and  faithfully  witii 
men,  if  ever  you  intend  to  do  thera  good.  It  is  not 
boveiing  ac  a  dillaucc  in  a  geueial  difcourfe  that  will 
ferve  the  turn  ;  it  is  not  in  curing  men's  fouls,  as  i«i 
curing  their  bodies,  where  they  mull  not  know  their 
danger,  left  it  fadden  them,  and  hinder  the  cure. 
They  are  here  agents  in  their  owit  cure,  and  if  they 
knovrnot  their  mifcry,  they  v.'ill  aever  bewail  it,  nor 
knou-  how  much  need  they  have  of  a  Saviour  ;  If  they 
know  not  the  vvorll.  they  will  not  Irbour  to  prevent 
it ;  but  will  fit  ftill  or  loiter  till  they  drop  into  per- 
3  dilion, 


2c6     The  Saints  Everlajiing  Rejl. 

ditlon,  and  will  trifle  out  their  time  till  It  be  too  late: 
and  therefore  fpeak  to  men,  as  Chrifl  to  the  Pharifees, 
till  they  knew  that  he  meant  them.  Deal  plainly,  or 
you  do  but  deceive  and  deftroy  them. 

5.  And  as  you  mufl  do  It  plafnly,  fo  alfo  ferloufly, 
Etaloufly,  and   efFeftually.     The  exceeding   ilupidity 
and  deadnefs  of  men*s   hearts  is  fuch,  that  no  other 
dealing  will  ordinarily  work.     You  mufl  call  aloud  to 
awake  a  man  in  a  fwoon  or  lethargy.      If  you  fpeak 
to  the  common  fort  of  men,  of  the  evil  of  their  fin, 
of  their  need  of  Chiiil,   of  the  danger  of  their  fouls, 
and  of  the  necefGty  of  regeneration,  they  will  wearily 
and  unwilHngly  give  you  the  hearing,  and  put  off  all 
with  a   figh,  or   a  itw    good   wifhes,  and   fay,  God 
forgive  us,  ive  are  alljinners-,   and  there  is  an  end.     If 
€ver  you  will  do  them  good  therefore,  you  mufl  fharp- 
€n   your  exhortation,  and  ftt  it  hom€,  and  follow  it, 
till  you  have  roufed  them  up,  and   made  them  begin 
to  look  about  them.     Let  them  know  that  thou  fpeak- 
efl  not  to  them  of  indifferent  things,  nor  about  chil- 
dren's games,  or  matters  of  a  it"^  days  or  years  con- 
tinuance,  nor  y€t  about  matters  of  uncertainty,  which 
may  never  come   to  pafs  :  but    it  is  about  the  faving 
and  damning  of  their  fouls  and  bodies;  and  whether 
they  fhall  be  bleffed  with  Chriil,  or  tormented  with 
devils,  and  that  for  ever  and  ever  ;  It  is,  how  to  fland 
before  God  in  judgment,  and    what    anfwer  to  give, 
and  how  they  are   like  to  fpeed  ;  and    this  judgment 
and  eternal  flate  they  fhall  very  fhortly    fee,  they  arc 
almod  at  it  ;  yet   a  few   more    nights  and  days,  and 
they  fhall  be  at  that  lafl  day :  a  few  mote    breaths, 
they  have  to  breathe,  and  they  fhall  breathe  their  lafl  ; 
and  then  as  certainly  fhall  they  fee  that  mighty  change, 
ai  the  heav£n  is  over  their  heads,  and  the  earth  under 
their  feet.     O  labour   to  make  men  know,  that  it  is 
mad  jefling  about  falvation   or   damnation  ;  and  that 
bcave^  and  hell  are  not  matters  to  be  played  with,  or 

paired 


The  Saints  Everlaft'wg  Rejl,    207 

paiTcd  over  with  a  hvt  carelefs  tbouglits !  It  1*3  mofl 
certain  that  one  of  thefe  days  thou  fhak  be  either  In 
eftrlafHng,  unchangeable  joy  or  torment  ;  and  dolli 
it  not  awake  thee  ?  Are  there  fo  few  that  find  the  way 
gf  death  ?  Is  it  fo  hard  t©  efcape  r  iO  eafy  to  mifcarry  \ 
And  that  while  we  fear  nothing-,  but  think  all  is  wtii  * 
And  yet  you  fit  Ail!  and  trifle  !  Why,  what  do  yoii 
^mean  ?  What  do  you  think  on  ?  The  wotld  is  pafTiKg; 
away  :  its  pkafures  are  fading  :  its  honours  are  leav- 
ing you  :  ic3  profits  will  prove  unprofitable  to  you  : 
heaven  or  hell  are  a  little  before  you:  God  is  j'.ilU 
and  jealon-^  ;  liis  threatening^  are  true  :  the  great  d:»\ 
-of  his  Jiulgment  vvili  be  terrible  ;  your  time  viins  ori  : 
your  hves  are  uncertain  :  you  aie  far  behind  hard  : 
you  have  loitered  long  :  yrur  cafe  is  dangertuis  : 
your  fouls  are  far  gone  in  "fin  :  you  are  ftr.'.nge  t(» 
C:d;  you  are  hardirned  in  evil  ci;{toms:  you  l^ave 
ria  alTurance  of  comfort  to  fhew  :  ii  you  die  to  mor- 
row, how  unready  are  you  !  And  with  what  terror 
will  your  fouls  go  out  of  your  bodies  !  And  do  you 
yet  loiter  •*  Why,  confider,  God  dandeth  all  this 
while  waiting  your  leifure  :  his  patience  besreth  :  his 
judice  forbeareth  :  his  mercy  entreateth  you  :  Chiitb 
Ibndeth  offering  you  his  bl'jod  and  merits  :  you  may 
have  him  fieely,  and  life  with  him.:  the  Spirit  is  per- 
fuading :  coiifcier.ee  is  accufing  and  urging  you  : 
minliUrs  are  praying  for  you,  afid  calling  upon  you  : 
Sitan  llands  waiting  when  juflice  will  cut  off  your 
lives,  that  he  may  have  you  :  ilu's  is  your  time  :  now 
v\'  never.  Whit  !  had  you  rather  lofe  heaven  than 
your  profits  or  pleafures  ?  Had  you  rather  burn  in  hell, 
than  repent  on  earth?  Had  you  rather  howl  and  roar 
there,  than  pray  day  and  night  for  mercy  here  ?  Or 
have  devils  your  tormentors,  than  Christ  your  gover- 
lior  ?  W^ill  you  renounce  your  part  In  God  and  glory, 
rather  than  renounce  your  fins  ?  Do  you  think  a  holy 
h'fe  too  much  {nv  heaven  ;  or  too  dearacourfe  to  pre- 
vent endlcfs  mifery  ?  Oh  friend?,  what  do  vou  think 

of 


ao3     The  Saiiits  Evcr'lafiwg  Refl. 

of  tbefe  things  ?  God  hath  made  you  -men,  and  ct3- 
dued  you  with  reafon  :  do  you  renounce  your  reafon 
where  you  fhould  chiefly  ufe  it  ?  In  this  manner  you 
mud  deal  roundly  and  ierioufly  with  men.  Alas  !  it 
3s  not  a  few  dull  words  between  jeft  and  earned,  be- 
tween fleep  and  waking,  as  it  were,  that  will  wakea 
c\n  i;^noranr  dead-hearted  finner.  When  a  dull  hearer, 
and  a  dr.ll  fpeaker  meet  together,  a  dead  heart,  and 
a  dead  exhortation  ;  it  is  unlike  to  have  a  lively  efFeft. 
If  a  man  fall  down  in  a  fwoon,  you  wn'll  not  Hand 
trilling  with  him,  but  lay  hands  on  him  prefently, 
nnd  I'nateh  !jim  up,  and  rub  him,  and  call  aloud  to 
him  :  if  a  houfe  be  on  fire,  you  will  not  in  a  cold  drain 
f^o  idl  your  neighbour  of  it,  or  make  an  oration 
of  ti)e  nature  and  d;;ngcr  of  lire;  but  you  will  run  out 
and  cry  fire,  fire  :  matters  of  moment  mad  be  feriouf- 
1v  dealt  vviili.  To  tell  a  man  of  his  fms  fo  fofcly  as 
u'Vii  did  his  Tons,  or  reprove  him  fo  gently  23  Jclyjlhi- 
fhat  did  Ahab,  I.tt  not  the  ^hg  f'jy JOi  dotli  ufunlly  as 
much  harm  as  good.  I  ani  pcrfuaded  the  very  m-jn- 
-iier  of  fome  mcji's  reproof  and  exhortaiion,  hadi  hard- 
t-ned  ir.any  a  frnricr  in  fhe  way  of  dedrudion.  To 
tell  them  of  fin,  or  of  heaven  or  hell,  in  a  dull,  eafy, 
carelefs  language,  doth  make  men  think  you  are  not 
in  good  earnt- fl  ;  but  fcarcc  think  yourfelves  fuch  things 
r.re  trne.  O  firs,  deal  with  fin  as  iiu,  and  fpeak  of  hea- 
ven nnd  Ijell  as  tliey  are,  and  not  as  if  you  were  injed.. 
I  confefs  I  have  failed  much  in  this  myfejf,  the  Lord 
]ay  it  not  to  my  charge  !  Lothnefs  to  difpleafe  men, 
makes  us  undo  them. 

6  Yt  t  Kft  you  run  into  extremes,  T  advife  you  to 
do  it  \»."ith  difcreticn.  Be  as  ferious  as  you  can  ;  but 
yet  with  wifdom.  And  efpecially  you  mull  be  wife 
in  thefe  things  following  : 

I.  In  choofing  the  fitted  fcafon  for  your  exliortati- 
cn  ;  not  to  deal  with  men  when  ithey  arc  in  a  pafiion. 


The  Saints  Everlajllng  Rejl,     209 

or  where  they  will  take  it  for  adifgrace.  Men  flioiiIJ 
obferve,  when  finners  are  fitted  to  hear  inftructlons. 
Phyfic  mull  not  be  given  at  all  times,  but  in  feafon. 
It  is  an  excellent  example  that  /^aw/giveth  us,  Gal.  li.z. 
He  communicated  the  gofpel  to  them,  yet  privately 
to  them  of  reputation,  left  he  fliould  run  in  vain. 
Some  men  would  take  this  to  be  a  finful  complying 
with  their  corruption,  to  yield  fo  far  to  their  pride 
and  bafhfulnefs,  as  to  teach  them  only  in  private,  be- 
caufe  they  would  be  afhamed  to  own  the  tiuth  in  pub- 
lic :  but  Paxil  knew  how  great  a  hinderance  men's  re- 
putation is  to  their  entertaining  of  the  truth,  and  that 
the  remedy  muft  not  only  be  fitted  to  the  difeafe,  but 
alfo  to  the  ftrength  of  the  patient,  and  that  in  fo  dos- 
ing, the  phyfician  is  not  guilty  of  favouring  the 
difeafe,  but  i^  praife-worthy  for  taking  the  right  way 
to  cure.  Means  will  work  eafily  if  you  take  the  op- 
portunity ;  when  the  earth  is  foft,  the  plough  will  en- 
ter. 1'ake  a  man  when  he  is  under  affliction,  or  m 
the  houfe  of  mourning,  or  newly  ftirred  by  fome  mov- 
ing fermon,  and  then  fct  it  home,  and  you  may  ^o 
him  fome  good.  Chrilllan  fairhfalnefs  doth  reqiiire 
us,  not  only  to  do  good  when  it  f.ilia  i'.i  our  vray,  but-, 
to  watch  for  opporlunitici. 

2.  Be  wife  alfo  in  fuiting  your  exhortalion  to  th^ 
quality  and  tempe;  of  the  perfon.  A!i  meats  are  not 
lor  all  ftomachs  :  one  man  will  vomit  that  up  wh'cU 
another  will  digtft.  i.  If  it  be  a  learned,  or  ingeni- 
ous  rational  man,  you  muft  deal  if.ore  by  coiivlucin^ 
arguments,  and  lefs  by  pafhonate  perfuafions.  2.  IF 
it  be  one  that  is- both  ignorant  and  ftupid,  there  is 
need  of  both.  3,  If  one  that  is  convinced,  but  not 
converted,  you  mud  ufe  molt  thofe  means  that  roufe 
the  affcdlic  ns.  4.  If  they  be  obftinate  and  fccure,  you 
mull  reprove  them  fharply.  5.  If  they  be  of  timorous, 
tender  natures,  they  muft  be  tenderly  dtalt  with.  AU 
caauot  btiir  Uuit  rough  dealing  that  fom^  can.     Love 


2IO    77?cf  Saints  Tl^enojling  TLeJi. 

and  plaitiiiefii,  and  fcriourncfs,  take  with  all :  but  worcl-s 
of  terror  fome  can  fcarce  bear. 

3.  You  miifl  be  wife  alfo  in  ufing  the  aptell  expref- 
fi.):is.  Many  a  miiiifler  doth  deliver  moft  excellent 
matter  in  fiich  harfli  and  uiifecming  language,  that  it 
m:ikc3  the  h-earers  loath  the  food  that  they  (hould  live 
by,  and  laugh  at  a  fermon  that  might  make  them 
quake  '.  efpecially  if  they  be  men  of  curious  ears,  and 
carnal  hearts,  and  have  more  wit  asd  parts  than  the 
fnedcer.  Ajid  fo  it  is  in  private  exbortaUon  as  well  as 
pubhc  :  if  you  clothe  the  xjioil  an^i.^ble  truth  in  the 
fjrdid  rags  of  unbtfeeming  language,  you  will  make 
men  difdiin  it,  though  it  be  the  offspring  of  God, 
a:id  oi  the  higheil  nature. 

4.  Let  all  your  reproofs  and  exhortations  be  backed 
with  the  authority  of  God.  Let  the  finner  be  con- 
vinced that  you  fpeak  jiot  ,from  yourfelves  or  of  your 
own  head.  Shew  them' the  very  words  of  fcripture  for 
what  you  fay  :  prefs  them  with  the  truth  and  autho- 
rity of  God  ;  ij{l<  them,  Whether  they  believe  that 
this  is  his  word,  and  thac  his  word  is  true.  So  much 
'.  F  God  as  appeareth  in  our  worcjs,  fo  much  will  they 
Xike.  The  vo'ce  of  man  is  contemptible:  but  the 
v  Ice  of  God  is  awful  and  terrible.  Be  fure  therefore 
t  .  inake  them  know,  that  you  fpeak  nothing  but  what 
God  hath  fpoken  lirft. 

5.  You  muPc  alfo  be  frequent  with  men  in  this  du- 
ty ^^  exhortation  ;  it  is  not  once  or  twice  that  yfually 
will  prevail.  If  God  himfelf  mull  be  conftantly  fo- 
licitcd,  as  if  importunity  could  prevail  with  him  when 
nothing  elfe  can  ;  and  therefore  requires  us  altuays  to 
priy  and  not  to  faint:  the  fame  courfe,  no  doubt, 
will  be  raoH;  prevailing  with  men.  Tiicrefore  w€ 
are  commanded,  to  exhort  one  another  daily.,  and  luith 
uH'4'jngJ'jJJ'tnn^:  the  Jire  it  wA  always  brought  out    ef 


The  Saints  Everla/?ing  Reft.     2 it 

the  ji'int  ai  on:  Jlrohe  :  nor  1710:1*  s  offiEi'ions  I'm  Med  af  tl'C 
Jirjl  exhortation.  And  if  they  were,  yet  if  they  be  not 
followed,  they  will  foon  grow  cold  again.  Weary- 
out  linncrs  with  your  loving  and  earned  entreaties  ; 
.'fidlow  tljcm,  and  give  tliem  no  reil  iu  their  iin.  This 
is  true  charity,  and  this  is  the  wsy  to  fave  men's  fouls  :; 
and  a  conrfe  thac  will  afford  you  conifort  upon  a  rje- 
'^icw. 

6.  Strive  to  bring  all  your  exhortations  to  an  ilTue  ; 
Hick  not  in  the  work  done,  but  look  after  the  fuccefs. 
I  have  long  obferved  it  in  miniiler?  nnd  private  men, 
that  if  they  fpeak  never  fo  c6nvinc;ng  words,  and  yet 
all  their  care  is  over  when  theV'l^Hve  done  their  fpeecli, 
.pretending  that  having  done  their  diity,  they  leave  the 
iirne  to  God  :  thefe  men  feldam  profper  in  their  la- 
bours :  but  tliof-j  whofe  very  heart  is  fet  upon  th^ 
work,  and  that  long  to  fee  it  take  For  the  hearers  con- 
verlion,  and  ufe  to  enquire  hou'  it  fpeeds,  God  ufual- 
ly  bleHVth  their  labour?,  though  more  weak.      Labour 

•thcrefoie  to  drive  all  your  fpeechcr.  to  the  defired  llTue, 
If  you  arc  reproving  iin,  ceafe  not  till  (if  it  may  be) 
you  have  got  the  fjnner  to  pi;omife  you  to  leave  it, 
and  to  avoid  the  occasions  of  it  :  if  you  are  exhorting 
to  a  duty,  urge  the  party  to  promife  you  prefenily  to 
fct  upon  it.  If  you  would  draw  them  to  Chriil,  leave 
not,  till  you  have  made  them  confefs  that  their  pie- 
fent  f^ate  is  miferable,  ard  not  to  be  reiled  in  :  and 
till  they  have  fubfcribed  to  the  neccflity  of  a  change  ; 
and  promifed  you  to  fall  clofe  to  th.e  ufe  of  m.eans. 
O  that  all  chriftians  would  be  peifuaded  to  take  this 
courfe  with  all  their  neighbours  that  i;rc  yet  enflavcd 
to  fm,  and  lb-angers  to  Chrid  ! 

7.  La  Illy,  Be  fure  your  example  exliort  ss  well  a^ 
your  words.  Let  them  {(iq  you  conftant  in  all  the 
duties   you    perfuade    them  to  :   let   ihcm  f.^e  in  your 

iiivjTs.that.SJLUcllaicy  ab-cvc  tiie. world,,  which  yoiiper- 


13^ 


2 1 2    The  Saints  Everlajllng  Reft, 

fuade  them  to  in  your  fpeecLes.  Let  them  fee  by  your 
conllant  labours  fi)r  heaven,  that  you  indeed  beherc 
what  you  would  have  them  believe. 

And  thus  I  have  opened  to  you  the  firfl  and  great 
part  of  this  duty,  confiliing  In  private  exhortation, 
for  the  helping  of  poor  fouls  to  this  rei'l,  that  have  yet 
no  title  to  it  ;  and  I  iiave  fl^.eued  you  alf©  the  manner 
how  to  perform  it.  1  will  now  fpeak  a  little  of  the 
next  pait. 

I.  Bcndes  the  duty  of  private  admonition,  y^ou  mud 
do  your  utmoll  endeavours  to  help  men  to  profit  by  tlie 
public  ordinances.  And  to  thiit  end,  Firlt,  do  your 
endeavours  for  the  procuring  of  faithful  minlllcrs  v^-here 
they  are  wanting.  'I'his  is  God's  ordinary  means  of 
converting  and  faving.  Honu  [hall  they  hear  tvilhout  a 
preacher  ?  Not  only  for  your  own  fakes  therefore,  but 
for  the  poor  tniferable  ones  about  you,  do  all  you  can 
to  bring  this  to  pafs.  Improve  all  your  intcrcft  and 
diligence  to  this  end.  Ride,  and  go,  and  feek,  and 
xi^ake  friends  till  you  prevail.  Who  ktioweth  how 
Kiany  fouls  may  blefs  yow,  v/ho  have  been  converted 
by  the  minillry  which  you  have  procured  I  \\.  is  an 
higher  and  nobler  work  of  charity,  than  if  ftni  gave 
all  that  you  have  lo  relieve  their  bodies. 

How  fmall  a  matter  were  Ic  (and  yet  how  excellent 
a  work)  for  every  gentleman  of  means  in  Enghmd,  to- 
cull  out  fome  one  or  two,  or  more  poor  boys  in  the 
country  fchools,  who  are  the  cholcell  viits,  and  of  the 
nioft  pious  dlfpofitions,  who  are  poor  and  unable  to 
proceed  in  learning'  ;  and  to  maintain  them  till  they 
are  fit  for  the  miiu'ltry  ?  It  were  but  keeping  a  few 
fuperfluous  attendants  the  Ivfp,  if  they  had  hearts  to 
it,  it  were  eafily  fparcd  out  of  their  rich  apparel,  or 
fupeifiuous  diet  ;  I  dare  fay,  they  would  not  be  forry 
for  it  when  they  come  to  their  reckoning  :  one  fump^ 

tuoua 


Thd  Siiints  EverlaJIing  Rejl,    2 1 J 

"thons  feaft,  or  one  coRly  fuit  of  apparel,  would  main- 
tain a  poor  boy  a  year  or  two  at  tlie  univcrfity,  who 
perhaps  might  come  to  have  more  true  worth  in  him, 
than  many  a  glittering  lorJ,  and  to  do  God  more  iVr- 
vicc  in  his  church,  than  ever  they  did  with  all  their 
cftates  and  power. 

2.  And  when  you  enjoy  tlie  hlefiing  of  the  gofpel, 
you  muil  yet  ufe  your  utmoft  diligence  to  help  poor 
fouls  to  receive  the  fruit  of  it.  To  which  end  you 
miiil  draw  them  confiantly  to  hear  and  attend  it : 
mind  them  often  of  what  they  have  heard  :  draw  them 
if  it  be  pouible,  to  repeat  it  in  their  families  ;  if  that 
cannot  be,  tiien  draw  them  to  come  tootheis  that  da 
r^pe?.c  it  ;  that  fo  it  may  not  die  in  the  hearing.  The 
v.jry  di awing  cf  men  into  the  company  and  acquaint- 
ance of  the  good  man,  befides  the  benclit  they  hav^ 
by  their  endeavours,  is  of  fingular  ufe  to  the  recove- 
ry of  their  fouls.  It  is  a  means  to  take  off  prejudice, 
by  confuting  the  world's  Hnnders  of  the  ways  and 
people  of  God.  UiC  therefore  often  to  meet  toge- 
t!v:r,  bcfides  the  more  public  meeting  in  the  congre- 
gation :  not  to  vent  any  unfound  opinions,  nor  at  the 
lime  of  public  worfljip  ;  nor  yet  to  feparate  from  tlic 
churcli  wherctrf  you  are  membeis  ;  but  the  work  wliich 
I  would  have  you  meet  about,  is  this,  to  repeat  toge- 
ther the  word  which  you  have  heard  in  public  ;  to 
pour  out  your  joint  prayers  for  the  church  and  your- 
iclves  :  to  Join  in  cheerful  finging  the  pvaifes  of  God  ; 
to  open  your  fcruples  and  d'-ubts,  and  fears,  and  get 
rrefolutiou  ;  to  quicken  each  other  in  love  and  heaven- 

linefs,  or  holy  walking  :  and  all  this  not  as  a  fepa- 
ratcd  church,  but  as  a  part  of  the  church  more  dili- 
gent than  the  red  in  redeeming  time,  and  helping  the 
■fouls  of  each  other  hcav^n-ward. 

3.  On^'  ^hing    more    I  advife  you  ;  if  you  would 
have  fuub  faved  by  the  ordinances;  labour  ilill  to  keep 


214   The  Saints  Everlafiing  Rtf. 

the  ordinances  and  minlftry  In  edeem.  No  roan  will 
be  much  wrought  on  by  that  which  he  defpifeth.  1 
fhall  confirm  you  hcrtln,  not  in  my  own  words,  but 
in  his  tliat  1  know  you  dare  not  difrcgard,  i  Thef.  v. 
II,  12,  13.  IV/nreJore  couifort  yourfehes  together ,  arul 
edify  one  atyjih'.ti  even  at  ye  olfo  do  :  and  tie  hefeech 
you  brethren  to  krotu  them  ivh'ich  labour  amot^g  yOUy  and 
are  over  you  in  thd  Lord,  and  almovifo  youy  and  to  ejltem 
ihem  very  highly  in  love  for  their  ixjorVi  fake  ;  and  bi  at 
peace  among  ycurfelves.  Obey  them  that  have  the  rule 
over  you  y  and  fulm'it  yourflves  ;  for  they  nvatch  for  your 
fouls i  at  thcfe  that  mujl  give  an  account ^  that  they  may  dj 
it  ivi(h  joy^  and  not  iLnth  grief :  for  that  is  unpr (jit able 
for  you,  Hcb.  xiii.  17. 

Thus  you  f^e  part  of  your  duty  for  the  falvation  of 
others. 

But  where  (hall  we  find  the  man,  that  fettetli  hlm-- 
UM  to  it  with  all  his  might,  and  tliat  haih  fet  his 
heart  upon  the  fouls  of  his  brethren,  that  they  may 
be  favcd? 

Let  us  here  n  little  enquire,  what  may  be  the  caufes 
of  the  grofs  ncglcCl;  of  this  duty,  that  the  hinderan* 
ces  being  dil^covered,  may  the  more  eafily  be  over- 
come. 

I.  One  liiiidcrance,  is,  men's  own  nnfulnefs  and 
giM'ltinefs.  They  have  not  been  ryvlfhtd  thcmftlves 
w'ltli  tihe  lieavenly  ddights  :  how  then  Ihould  they 
draw  others  to  feek  them  ?  They  have  not  felt  the 
w'ickednefs  of  their  own  nature,  nor  their  loft  con- 
dition, nor  their  need  of  Chrill,  nor  f.lt  tiie  renew- 
ing work  of  the  Spirit  ;  how  then  can  they  difcover 
thefe  to  others?  Ah  that  this  were  not  the  cafe  of 
many  a  harried  preacher  in  England !  And  the  caufe 
why    tlicy    preacii   fo    fjozenly  !  Men  alfo  are  g'uihy 

themfclves 


The  Saints  Ever  lading  Rejl.     215 

t"hemfelves  of  the  fins  they  fhould  reprove  :  and  this 
flops  their  mouths,  and  maketh  them  afliamed  to  re- 
prove. 

2.  Another  hinderance,  is,  a  fecret  infidehty  pre- 
vailing in  men's  hearts  :  Ahs,  firs,  we  do  not  fure 
beheve  men's  mifery  ;  we  do  not  beh'eve  fure  the 
threatenings  of  God  are  true.  Did  we  verily  beh'eve 
that  all  the  unregenerate  and  unholy  fhall  be  eternally 
tormented,  oh  how  could  we  hold  our  tongues  when 
we  are  among  the  unregenerate  ;  how  could  we  choofe 
but  biirft  out  into  tears  when  we  look  them  in  the 
face,  as  the  prophet  did  when  he  looked  upon  f/aza' 
el  ?  Efpecially  when  they  are  our  kindred  or  friends 
that  are  near  and  dear  to  us  ?  Thus  doth  fecret  unbe- 
lief confume  the  vigour  of  each  grace  and  duty.  Oh 
chriftians,  if  you  did  veriiy  believe  that  your  poor 
neighbour,  or  v^ife,  or  hufband,  or  cliild,  fhould  cer- 
tainly lie  for  ever  in  the  flames  of  hell,  except  they 
be  thoroughly  changed,  before  death  doth  fnatch  them 
hence,  would  not  thi?  make  you  call  off  all  difcou- 
ragements,  and  lie  at  them  day  and  night  till  they 
were  perfuaded  ?  How  could  you  hold  your  tongue, 
or  let  them  alone  another  day,  if  this  were  foundly  be- 
lieved ?  If  you  were  fure  that  any  of  your  dear  friends 
that  arc  dead,  were  now  in  hell,  and  perfuading  to 
repentance  would  get  him  out  again,  would  not  you 
perfuade  him  day  and  night  if  he  were  in  hearing  ? 
And  why  ihould  you  not  do  as  much  then  to  prevent 
it,  while  he  is  in  your  hearing,  but  that  you  do  not 
believd  God's  word  that  fpeaks  the  danger  ?  Oh  were 
it  not  for  this  curfed  unbelief,  our  own  fouls  and  our 
Heighbour's  would  gain  more  by  us  than  they  do. 

3.  This  faithful  dealing  with  men  for  their  falva- 
tion,  is  much  hindered  alfo  by  our  want  of  compaflion 
to  men's  fouls.  We  are  hard-hearted  and  cruel  to- 
ward the  raifcrable  ;  and  therefore  (as  the  prieft  and 


2 1 6    The  Saints  Everlnjiing  Reji\ 

ihe  Levite  did  by  the  wounded  man)  we  look  on  tliemr 
and  pafs  by.  O  vvhst  tender  hearts  could  endure  to- 
look  upon  a  poor,  blind,  forlorn  iinner,  wounded  by 
fin  and  captivated  by  Satan,  and  nevcT  once  open  their 
mouths  tor  his  recovery  !  What  though  he  be  filent, 
and  do  not  dcfire  thy  help  ?  yet  his  milery  cries  aloud  > 
mifery  is  the  inoft  effedtual  fuiter  to  one  that  is  com- 
paffionate  :  iFGod  had  not  heard  the  cry  of  our  mife- 
ries  before  he  heard  the  ciy  of  our  prayers,  and  beei> 
moved  by  his  own  pity,  before  he  was  moved  by  our 
importunity,  we  might  have  long  enough  continued 
the  flaves  of  Satan.  Alas,  what  pitiful  fights  do  we 
daily  fte  !  The  ignorant,  the  profane,  the  negled^ers 
of  Ch^'d  and  their  fouls  :  their  fores  are  open  and  vifi* 
ble  to  all  :  and  yet  we  do  not  pity  tiiem.  You  will 
pray  to  God  for  them,  in  cuftomary  duties,  that  God 
would  open  the  eyes,  and  turn  the  hearts  of  your 
friends  and  neighbours  ;  and  w'hy  do  you  not  en- 
deavour their  convcrfion  if  you  defire  it  ?  and  if  yoi> 
do  not  defire  it,  why  d,Q  you  aik  it  ?  Doth  not  youi? 
negligence  convince  you  of  hypocrify  in  your  prayers^ 
and  of  abufing  the  mod  high  God  with  your  deceit- 
ful words  ?  Your  ntighbours  are  near  you,  your 
friends  are  in  the  houfe  with  you,  you  eat  and  drink, 
and  work,  and  walk,  and  talk  with  them,  and  yet  yoti 
fay  little  or  nothing  to  them.  Why  do  you  not  pray 
them  to  confider  arrd  return,  as  well  as  pray  Cod  ta 
convert  and  turn  them  ?  Have  you  as  oft  begged  of 
them  to  think  on  their  ways,  and  to  reform,  as  yott 
have  taken  on  you  to  beg  of  God  that  tbey  may  fo 
do?  W':at  if  you  fnould  fee  your  neigiibour  fallen 
into  a  pit,  and  you  (hould  prefently  fall  down  on 
your  knees,  and  pray  God  to  help  him  out,  butwould 
neither  put  forth  your  hand  to  help  him,  nor  once 
perfuade  or  diredl  hin;  to  help  himfelf,  would  not  any 
man  ctrfurt  you  to  be  cruel  and  hypociitical?  W'hatthe 
Holy  Ghoit  faith  of  n)en's  bodily  mifenes,  I  may  fay 
jnucjli  move  of  the  mifery  of  their  fouls  >  If  any  man 

feeth 


The  Saints  Evcrlajiing  Rcfi,    217 

feelh  his  brother  in  neeJy  and  pjufteth  up  lis  comf^r^'.n 
from  him y  hozu  cliveVcth  ihc  Icoe  of  G id  in  h'r.i  ?  Or 
what  love  hath  he  to  his  brother's  fcul  ?  The  charity 
of  our  ignorant  fure-fathers  may  rife  up  in  judqntnt 
a^ainft  us,  and  condemn  us  :  they  would  give  all 
their  eftates  almolt,  for  fo  many  niaffes  or  pardons, 
to  deliver  the  fouls  of  their  friends  from  a  feigned 
purgatory  :  and  we  will  not  as  much  as  adtnonilli  and 
entreat  them,  to  fave  them  from  the  certain  fiames  of 
hell. 

4.  Another  hinderance,  is,  a  br.fe  man-pleafmg  d'f- 
pofition  that  is  in  us.  We  arc  {a  loth  to  difpleafi 
men,  and  fo  d;;(i"ous  to  keep  in  credit  and  favour 
witli  them,  that  it  makes  us  neglect  our  own  duty. 
A  foolirti  phyficlan  he  is,  and  a  niofl  unfaithful  friend, 
that  will  let  a  fick  man  die  for  fear  of  troubling  him. 
And  cruel  wretches  are  we  to  our  friends  that  will 
^rather  fufFer  them  to  go  quickly  to  htll,  tlian  wc  will 
anger  them,  or  hazard  our  reputation  with  them.  If 
they  did  but  fall  in  a  fwoon,  we  would  rub  them  a;i  I 
pinch  them,  and  never  ftick  at  hurting  them.  If  they 
were  dl{lra<£l:ed,  we  would  bind  them  with  chains,, 
and  we  would  pleafe  them  In  noihing  that  tended  to 
their  hurt.  /\nd  yet  when  they  are  befide  themfelvci 
In  point  of  falvation,  and  in  their  madncfs  poftin^f 
on  to  damnation,  we  will  not  Rop  them,  for  f.-ar  of 
difpleafing  them.  Hew  can  thcfe  men  he  chrlftlans^ 
that  love  the  pnvje  an  i  favour  of  mm,  more  than  tls 
favour  of  God  ?  John  xii.  43  For  if  they  yet  feeh  tt 
pleafe  me?i,  they  are  no  longer  the  firv.iv-is  of  Chrijl, 
Gal.  I.  10.  To  win  them  Indeed  they^nuit  b.^come 
all  things  to  all  men  :  but  to  pleafe  them  to  their  de- 
llru£lion,  and  let  them  perlfh,  that  we  may  keep 
our  credit  with  them,  is  a  courfe  fo  bafe  and  barba- 
roufly  cruel,  that  he  that  hath  the  face  of  a  chilllian 
fliould  abhor  it. 

T  c.  Another 


2i8     The  Saints  Everlajling  Rcfi. 

5.  Another  common  binderance,  Is,  a  finful  barti^ 
fiibjefs.  When  we  fhould  labour  to  make  men  afliam*- 
ed  of  their  fins,  we  are  ourfelves  afliamed  of  our  du- 
ties. May  not  thefe  fiiincrs  condemn  us,  when  they 
v^'ill  not  bliifh  to  fwear  or  be  drunk,  and  we  blufli  to 
tell  them  of  it,  and  perfuade  them  from  it  ?  Sinners 
will  boafl  of  their  fins,  and  Ihew  them  in  the  open- 
ftreets  :  and  fiiall  not  we  be  as  bold  in  drawing  them 
from  fin  ?  Not  that  I  would  have  inferiors  forget 
their  diftance  in  admonifliing  their  fuperiors;  but  do 
it  with  all  humility,  and  fubraifiion,  and  refpedl.  But 
yet  I  would  much  lefs  have  them  forget  their  duty  to 
God  and  their  friends,  be  they  never  fo  much  thett" 
fuperiors:  It  is  a  thing  that  mull  be  done.  Bafliful- 
nefs  is  unfeemly  In  cafes  of  flat  neceflity.  And  in- 
deed It  is  not  a  work  to  be  afhamed  of;  to  obey  God 
in  perfuading  men  from  their  fins  to  Chrift,  and  help- 
ing to  fave  their  fouls,  Is  not  a  bufinefs  for  a  man  to 
blufli  at.  Yet,  alas,  Vv'hat  abundance  cf  fouls  have 
been  negledled  through  the  prevailing  of  this  fin  1 
oLven  the  moft  of  us  are  [helnoufly  guilty  In  this  point. 
Keader  !  is  not  this  thy  own  cafe?  Hath  not  thy  con- 
fcience  told  thee  of  thy  duty  many  a  time,  and  put 
thee  on  to  fpeak  to  poor  finners,  left  they  pcrifli'? 
And  yet  thou  haft  been  afiiamed  to  open  thy  mouth 
to  them,  and  fo  let  them  alone  to  fink  or  fwim  ;  be- 
lieve me  thou  wilt  ere  long  be  afiiamed  of  this  fhame: 
O  read  thofe  words  of  Chrift  and  tremble:  He  that  is 
ajhavied  of  me  and  my  'words )  before  tins  aduherous  ge- 
neration ^  of  hem  ivill  the  Son  of  Man  b-:  ajhanud  before 
h'li  Father  and  the  angels, 

6.  V/Ith  many  alfo  pride  Is  a  great  impediment.'^ 
If  It  were  to  fpeak  to  a  great  man,  they  would  do  it, 
fo  It  would  not  difpleafe  him.  But  to  go  among  a 
company  of  ignorant  beggars,  or  mean  perfons,  and 
to  fit  with  them  In  a  fmoaky  nafty  cottage,  and  there 
to  exhort  thcai  from  filay  lo  day  j  where  is  the  perfoa 

thafi- 


Tve  Saints  Ever  la/ling  ]Zif}.     219 

that  will  do  it  ?  Many  will  much  rejoice  If  they  ^av^ 
been  inftrutjients  of  converting  a  gentleman  (and  tliey 
have  good  caufe)  but  for  the  common  multitude,  ihcy 
look  not  after  them  :  as  if  God  were  a  rcfpeclcr  of 
the  perfons  of  the  rich,  or  the  fouls  of  all  were  not. 
alike  to  him.  Alas,  tliefe  men  llitic  conTsdcr  how 
low  Chrift  did  ftoop  to  us  !  When  the  God  of  c;lory 
comes  down  in  fiefn  to  worms,  and  goeth  preaching 
up  and  down  among  them  from  city  to  city.  Not  tiic 
fillieft  women  that  he  thought  too  low  to  confer  with  : 
few  rich,  and  noble,  and  wife  are  called.  It  Is  the 
poor  that  receive  the  glad  tidings  of  the>ofpel. 

Objeft.  0  but,  faith  one,  I  am  of  fo  weak  part?,  that 
I  am  unable  to  manage  an  exhortation  ;  efpecially  tp 
,mcnof  ftiong  parts  and  underlUndirg. 

/  anfii'eri    i.    Set    thofe  upon  the  work  who  are 
.more  able.     2.   Yet  do  not  think  that  thou  art /?  ex.- 
.cufed   thyfelf,   but    irfe   faithfully   that  ability  which 
thou  haft  ;  not  in  teaching  thofe  (jf  whom  thou  nioiil'^^ 
Jearn,  but  in  indrufting  thofe  that  are  more  ignorant 
than  thyfelf,    and    in    exhorting  , thofe  that   iirc  negll- 
_gent  in  the  things  which  they  do  know.      If  you  can- 
not fpeak   -well  yourfelf,   yet  .you  ca.u    tell  them  wl;:\t 
God  fpeaketli  in    his  word.      It  is    not  the  exceh.i'.cv 
of  fpeech    that    winneth  the  fouls  ;  but  the  authority 
.of  God  manifeftcd  by  that  fpeech,    and  the  poA'er  of 
his  word  in  the  mouth  of  the  inftrudlor.      A  weak  wo- 
man may  tell  what  God  faith  In  the  plain  paiTages  of 
the  word,  as  well    as  a  learned  man.      If  you  cannot 
.preach  to  them,  yet  you   can  fay,   Thus  it  is  written. 
One  of  mean   parts  may  remember  the  vvifeft  of  their 
duty  when  they  forget  It. 

Obje£t.  It  is  ray  fuperior:  and  Is  it  fit  for  me  to 
teach  or  reprove  my  betters?  Muft  the  wife  teach  the 
,huibaiid,  of  whom  the  fcripture  biddeth  them  to  learn  ? 

Or 


C2  20    The  Sa'mts  LverJafAng  Rejl. 

Or%iu(l  the  child  leach  the  parent?,  vvhofe  duty  it   is 
to  t(?&ch  them  I 

I  anfivfrt  i.  It  is  fit  that  huft>and8  Hiould  be  able  to 
teach  thtir  vivcs,  and  parents  to  teach  their  children  ; 
and  God  expcdieth  they  fhould  be  fo,  and  therefore 
comnp.andfth  tiie  inferiora  to  learn  of  them.  But  if 
they  tlirough  their  neojigence  difable  thcmftlves,  of 
through  their  wickednefs  bring  their  fouls  into  fuch 
n^.ifery,  then  it  is  thcmfclves,  and  not  you,  that  break 
God's  order,  by  biloging  themfelvcs  into  difability 
and  mifery. 

Matter  of  mere  ovders  and  manners  m->:{l  be  difpen- 
f.d  witli  in  cafes  of  fiat  neccflity.  Though  it  were 
your  mlnift^r,  you  mult  teach  lam  in  fuch  a  cafe.  It 
it;  the  part  of  parents  to  provide  for  their  children,  and 
not  children  for  tajir  parents  :  and  yet  if  the  parents 
fall  into  want,  mull  not  the  children  relieve  them  ? 
It  is  the  part  of  the  hufband  to  difpofe  of  the  affairs  of 
tjj?  family  and  eilate  ;  and  yet  if  he  be  fick  or  befidc 
liinfclf,  mull  not  the  wife  do  it  ?  Th.e  rich  (liould 
relieve  the  poor  :  hut  if  the  rich  fall  into  beegary, 
th-y  muft  be  relieved  thcmfclves.  It  is  the  work  of  a 
phylician  to  look  to  the  health  of  others  :  and,  yet 
if  he  fall  Tick,  fomc  lx)dy  niufl  help  him.  So  mull 
thiC  meancft  fervant  admonifli  his  mailer,  and  the  child 
liis  parent,  and  l])e  wife  her  hulband,  and  the  people 
their  mifiiftcrs,  in  cafes  of  ntcefiity.  Yet  fecondly, 
let  me  give  you  thefe  two  cautions  here. 

1.  Tliat  you  do  not  pretend  nccellity  when  there  is 
none,  out  of  a  mere  dtfirc  of  teaching.  There  is  fcarce 
a  more  certain  difcovery  of  a  proud  heart,  tlian  to  be 
more  defirous  to  ttach,  than  to  learn  ;  efpeciaily  to- 
ward thofc  that  are  fitter  to  teach  us. 

2.  And 


The  Saints  Everlajling  Rejl.    221 

2.   And   when  the  necefllty  of  your  fuperiors  doth 

call  for  your  advice,  yet  doit   with  ?.ll  pofiible  liumi- 

■lity,  modefty,  andmeekncfs.      Let  them  difcern  yoiu- 

reverence  and  fubmilTion  in  tlie  humble  manner  of  your 

addrefles  to  them.     Let  them  perceive  that  you  do  it 

jiotout  of  a  mere  teaching  humour,  or  proud  felf-con- 

.  ceitednefs.      If  a  wife  fhould  tell  her  liufband  of  fin  in 

a  mafterly   railing    manner  ;  or  if   a   fervant  reprove 

his  mailer,  or  a  child  his  father  in  a  fancy  way,  what 

.good  could    be  expecfled  from  Hfuch   reproof?  But  if 

they  fhould   meekly   and  humbly  open  to  him  his  fm 

-and  danger,  and  entreat  him  to  bear  with  them  in  what 

God  commandeth,  and   if  they  could  by  tears  tellify 

-their  fenfe  of  his  cafe  :  what  father,  ormafter,  or  huf- 

Jaaud  could  take  this  ill  ? 

Objed.  But  forae  may  fa}^,  this  will  make  all  as 
'.preachers,  and  caufe  all  to  brea.k  over  the  bounds  ajf" 
their  caUings. 

I  anfiuetj  j.  This  is  not  taking  a  padoral  charge 
-of  fouls,  nor  making  an  office  or  calling  of  it,  a^ 
^preachers  do. 

2.  And  in  the  way  of  our  callings,  every  good 
-chriftian  is  a  teacher,  and  hath  a  charge  of  his  neigh- 
bour's foul.  Let  it  be  orJy  tlie  voice  of  a  Cain  to  fay, 
j^m  I  my  brother* s  keeper  P  I  would  one  of  thefe  men, 
.that  are  fo  loth  that  private  men  fhould  teach  them, 
to  tell  me,  what  if  a  man  fall  down  in  a  fwoon  in  the 
llreets,  though  it  be  your  father  or  fuperior,  would 
you  not  take  liim  up  prefently,  and  ufe  all  means  to 
recover  him?  Or  would  you  let  him  lie  and  die,  and 
fay,  it  is  the  work  of  the  phyfician,  and  not  mine  :  I 
will  not  invade  the  phylician's  calling.  In  two  cafes 
every  m-m  is  a  phyfician  ;  firft,  in  cafe  of  necelTity, 
and  v.iien  a  phyfician  cannot  be  had  :  and  fecondly,  In 
.cafe  the  hurt  be  fo  fmall,  that  every  man  can  do  %? 


r 


2  2  2     The  Sdints  EvcrhiJflng  Rejl, 

well  as  the  phyf.ciDn.      And   in  the   fame   two   cafes, 
every  man  mull  be  a  tcaclier. 

Objeft.   Some  will  further  objecSl,  to  put  off  this  du- 
ty, that  the  party  is  fo  ignorant,  or  ftupid,  or  carelefs, - 
or  rooted  in  fin,  and  hath  been  fo  oft  exhorted  in  vain, 
that  tlicre  is  no  hope. 

I  av fiver.  How  know  you  when  there  is  no  hope  ? 
Cannot  God  yet  cure  him  ?  And  liave  not  many  a& 
far  gone  been  cured  ?  Should  not  a  mercilul  pliyfician 
life  menus  wliile  there  is  life  ?  and  is  it  not  inhuman 
cruelty  in  you  to  give  up  your  friend  to  t])c  devil  as 
Iiopelefs,  npot)  mere  backvvardnefs  to  yoiir  duty,  or 
■>ipcn  groundlefy  dlfcou^agcments  ?  What  if  you  had 
been  fo  given  up  yourfelf  when  you  were  ignorant  f 

Objcft.  B'jt  rtr  rtmji  not  cajl  pearls  before  f'winfy  nor 
g.l'Uc  ihdi  ivkiih  is  ho-y  to  dogs. 

I  anfxvrr.  That  is  but  a  favourable  difpenfation  of 
Chrifl  for  your  own  fafety.  Wlien  you  are  in  danger 
of  bein^  torn  in  pieces,  Chrift  would  have  you  for- 
ocar  ;  but  what  is  that  to  you  that  are  in  no  fuch 
<l;t:^ger  ?  As  hiug  as  they  v.ill  hear,  you  have  encou- 
jrgcmcnt  to  fpeak,  and  may  not  call  them  off  as  con- 
temptuous fwine. 

Ohje£l.  O  but  it  is  a  friend  that  I  have  all  my  de- 
pendence on  ;  and  by  telling  him  of  his  fin  and  mifery, 
i  may  Icfe  his  love,  and  fo  bt  undone. 

T  nnfu'er^  Sure  no  man  that  linth  the  face  of  a 
ch-  iflian,  will  for  ihamc  own  fuch  an  objedion  as 
this.  Vet,  I  doubt,  it  oft  prevaileth  in  the  heart. 
Is  his  love  more  tr.  be  valued  tlian  his  fafety  ?  Or  thy 
own  benefit  by  lin.  ihan  the  falvation  of  his  foul  ? 
Or  wilt  thou  coiiuive  at  his  damnation,  becaufe  he  is 
^■'  thy 


The  Saints  Everlajllng  Reft,     22 


3 


tliy  friend  ?   Isthu  tliy  bert:  requital  of  his  friendfliip'J* 
Hadll  thou  ratht-r  he  (ho'jld  burn  for  ever  in  heli,thari" 
thou  fhouldil  lofe  his  favour,  or  the  maintenance  thoii-* 
haft  from  hiai  I 

To  conchide  this  ufe,  that  T  ir,?)-  prevail  with  every 
foul  that  fcaretli  God,  to  \\{^  trieir  utmoft  diligence  to 
liclp  all  about  them  to  this  bkikrd  reil,  let  me  cntreai; 
you  to  conhdcr  ihefe  following  motives  : 

I.  Confider,   nature  teacl.eth  the  communiealing  of 
good,  and  grace  doch  Specially  difpofe  the  foul  there- 
to ;  the  negk6l  therefore  of  this  work,  is  a  Hn  botli^ 
againlt  nature  and  grace. 

Would  y(ni  not  think  tl;3t  man  cr  v/oman  nnnatnr;'.!, 
that  would  let  their  children  or  nei[^hb;)urs  famiih   :fj  | 

the  llrcets,  while  they  have  provilion  at  hand  \  And 
is  ni)t  he  more  unnatuial,  that  v/ill  let  his  children  or 
neigl!])onrs  peiifli  erernally,  and  will  not  oj)en'*'rt 
moutii  to  fave  them  ?  Certainly  this  is  moft  barbarous 
cruelty.  We  account  an  unmerciful,  cruel  man,  a  vt- 
vy  monfter,  to  be  abhorred  of  all.  Many  vicious  men 
are  too  rnuch  loved  in  the  world,  but  a  cruel  man  is 
abhorred  of  all.  Now  that  it  n\ay  appear  to  you  what 
a  cruel  thing  this  negle^l  of  fouls  is,  do  but  confider 
thefe  two  things.  Firrt,  bow  great  a  work  it  is. 
Secondly,  how  fm.all  a  matter  it  is  th;it  th-ju  refufclb  i 
to  do  for  the  accompliibing  fo  great  a  work.  Firil,  fl 
it  is  to  fave  thy  brother  from  eternal  flames,  that  he  T 
may  not  there  lie  roaring  in  e-ndlefs  remedilefs  tor- 
ments. It  is  to  bring  him  to  the  everlafiing  refl, 
•nhere  he  may  live  in  inconceivable  happinefs  with 
God.  Secondly,  and  what  is  it  that  you  fhould  do 
to  hoi,;  hirn  herein  ?  Why,  it  is  to  perfuadc  him,  and 
lay  open  to  him  his  fm,  and  his  duty,  his  mifery,  and 
ih-  remedy,  till  you  have  madj  hinv  willing  ti)  yield 
to  tlie  \)S!i^i\i  and  comr.aadi.  of  Ciiriil.     And  is  this  fo 

great 


f 


224    27?^  Saints  'Ever lofting  Rejl, 

■-gxt2i\.  a  matter  for  to  do,  to  the  attalningr  fuch  a  blef- 
fed  end  ?  Is  not  the  foul  of  a  hufband,  or  wife,  or 
child,  or  neighbour,  worth  a  few  words  ?  It  is  wortk 
this,  or  it  is  worth  nothing.  If  they  lay  dying  in  the 
ilreets,  and  a  few  words  would  fave  their  lives,  would 
Tot  every  man  fay,  he  was  a  cruel  wretch  that  would 
let  them  perifh  rather  than  fpeak  to  them  ?  Even  the 
covetous  hypocrite,  that  Jamei  rcproveth,  would  give 
a  few  woids  lo  the  poor,  and  fay,  Go  and  he  'warmed 
and  be  clothed.  What  a  barbarous,  unmerciful  wretch 
then  art  thou,  that  wilt  not  vouchfafe  a  few  vi'ords  of 
ferious,  fober  admonition,  to  fave  the  foul  of  thy 
^iiieighbour  or  friend  r  Cruelty  and  unmercifulnefs  to 
men's  bodies,  ia  a  mort  dam.nable  fin  ;  but  to  their 
fouls  much  more,  as  the  foul  is  of  greater  worth  than 
the  body,  and  as  eternity  is  of  greater  moment  than 
this  fhort  time, 

Alas!   you  do  not  fee  or  feel  what  cafe  their  fouls 
are  in,  when  they  r.ve  in  hell,  for  want  of  your  faitl\- 
fiil  admonition.      Little  know  you  what  many  a  foiA 
may  now  be  feeling,  who  have  been  your  neighbours 
and   acquaintance,  and  died   in    their  fins,  on  whoai 
you  never  beftowcd  one  hour's   fobcr  advice  for  pre- 
venting their  unhappincfs.      If  .you  knew  their  mifery, 
you  \vould  now  do    more  to  bring  them   out  of  hell; 
but,  alas!    it  is  too  late,  you  fnould   have    done    it 
tvhilt-  they  were   with  you  ;  'x  is  now  too  late.     As 
,t)ne  faid  of  phyficians,   "That  tfaey    were   the    molt 
• «'  happy  men,  becaufe  all  their  good  deeds  and  cures 
.a  were  feen  above  ground  to  tlieir  praife,  but  all  their 
«<  nn'ftakes  and  neg!e<?ts  were  buried  out  of  fight-"   So 
I  may  fay  to  you,  many  a  ncgh  61  of  yours  to  the  fouls 
about  you,  may   be   now  burled    with  thofe   fouL  iai 
licll,  out  of  your  fi^iht,  and  thcrefon  no v^'  it  doth  not 
much    trouble  yon  ;  but,  alas  !    they   feci   it,   though 
■■  you  feel  it  not.  jeremlah  cryed  out.  My  bowels^  nryboiv- 
.ck^.I £anmt..hold  my.pmc^^  becaufe  of  a  temporal  dp- 


ji 

I 


The  Saints  EverlaJIing  Rejl,    225^ 

ftriiiflion  of  his  people  :  and  do  not  our  bowels  yearn  \ 
/\nd  can  we  hold  our  peace  at  men's  eternal  deftruc- 
tion  ? 

2.  Confidcr,  What  a  rate  Chrift  did  value  fouls  at, 
and  what  he  liath  done- towards  the  faving  of  them  : 
he  thought  them  worth  his  blood,  and  fhall  not  we 
think  them  worth  the  breath  of  our  mouths  ?  Will 
you  not  do  a  little,  where  he  hath  done  fo  much  \ 

3.  Confidcr,  what  a  deal  of  guilt  this  ncglecl  doth  | 
lay   upon    thy    foul.     Firfl,   thou   art   guilty   of  the     ^ 
iiiurder  and  damnarion  of  all  thofe  fi)uls  whom  thou  JV 
dort:  neglect.      He  that    ftandcth  by,  and  feeth  a  man 

In  a  pit,  and  will  not  pull  him  out  if  he  can,  doth, 
drown  him.  And  he  that  ftandeth  by  \A\\\q  thieves  ^^ 
rob  him,  or  murderers  kill  him^  and  will  not  help  '•^^ 
him  if  he  can.  is  acccfTary  to  the  fafi.  And  fo  he 
that  will  filently  fuilVr  men  to  d;;mn  their  fouls,  or  will 
i'rt  Satan  and  the  world  deceive  them,  and  not  offer 
to  help  them,  will  certainly  he  judged  guilty  of  damn* 
ing  them.  And  isnotth.isa  moil  dreadful  confickra- 
tlon  ?  O  firs,  how  many  fouls  then  have  every  one  of 
Ua  bjen  guiky  of  damning!  what  a  number  of  our 
neighbours  and  c'cquainlance  are  dead,  in  whom  we 
dlfcerned  no  fjgns  of  fiin£tification,  and  we  never  once 
plainly  told  them  of  It,  or  liovv  to  be  recovered  !  If 
you  had  been  the  caufe  but  of  burning  a  man's  houfe  . 

through  your  negligence,  or  of  undoing  him,  or  de-  jj 

ftroying  liis  body,  how  would  it  trouble  you  as  lon'^ 
as  you  lived  ?  If  you  had  but  killed  a  man  unadvifed- 
ly,  it  would  much  difquitt  ysu.  We  have  knowri 
thofe  that  have  been  guilty  of  murder,  that  could  ne- 
ver deep  quietly  after,  nor  have  one  comfortable  day^. 
their  own  confciences  did  fo  vex  and  torment  th-.rm. 
O  what  a  heart  mi.ift  thou  have,  that  haft  been  guilty 
of  murderin  T  fuch  a  mukif.ide  of  precious  iowh  !  Re- 
p-ember thli,  when  thou  lookell    thy  friend  or  carnal 


nei^hl^our 


1 


226     77?^'  Sai7its  Everhjling  Reft. 

neighbour  in  the  face  ;  and  think  with  thyfelf,  can 
I  find  in  my  heart,  through  my  Hlence  and  negligence, 
to  be  guilty  of  his  everlafting  burning  in  htU  ?  Me- 
'thinks  fuch  a  thought  fhould  even  untie  the  tongue  of 
the  dumb. 

2.  And  as  you  are  guilty  of  their  perifliing,  fo  are 
you  of  every  iin  which  in  the  mean  time  they  com- 
mit. \{  they  were  converted,  they  would  break  off 
their  courfe   of  finning:  and   if  you   did  your  duty, 

r  you  know  not  but  they  might  be  converted.     As  he 

T^  that  is  guilty  of  a  man's  drunkennefs,  is  guilty  of  all 
the  fins  which  that  drunkennefs  doth  caufe  him  to 
commit:  fo  he  that  is  guilty  of  a  man's  continuing 
unrcgenerate,  is  atfo  guilty  of  the  frts  of  his  unrcge- 
neracy.  How  many  curfes  and  oaths,  and  other  fins 
©fa  moil  heinous  nature  are  many  of  you  guilty  of, 
that  little  think  of  it  ?  You  that  take  much  pains  for 
your  own  fouls,  and  feem  fearful  of. finning,  woul^l 
take  it  ill  of  one  that  fhould  tell  you,  that  yon  arc " 
guilty  of  weekly,  or  daily  whoredoms,  and  drunkeriik 
nefs,  and  fwearing,  and  lying.  And  yet  it  is  too  true^ 
even  beyond  all  denial,  by  your  negle<^  of  helping 
thofe  v/ho  do  coramit  t-hcm. 


V 


► 


r 


3.  You  arc  guilty  alfo  of  all  thofe  judgments  which 
>thoie  men's  fins  bring  upon  the  town  or  country  where 
they  live.  I  know  you  are  not  fuch  atheilts,  but 
.1^|m^,  belitve  it  is  God  that  fendeth  ficknefs,  and  fa- 
rii'iicj  and  war  :  and  alfothat  it  is  only  fin  that  mov- 
etii  Vwxi  to  this  indignation.  What  doubt  then  is 
th'civ,  hut  you  are  the  caufe  of  judgments,  who  do 
not  ft  five  againll  thofe  fins  which  caufe  them  ?  God 
.hatr.  llaid  long  in  patience,  to  fee  if  any  would  deal 
-plainly  viih  the  finners  of  tiie  times,  and  fo  free  their 
own  fouls  from  the  guilt  :  but  v^'hen  he  feeth  that 
■  there  is  none,  but  all  become  guilty  :  .no  wonder  thea 
if  he  lay   the  judgment  upon  all.     We  have  all  fee p 

the 


m 


The  Saints Everlaf.'iitg  Reft.     227 

the  drunkards,  and  heard  the  fvvearers,  in  our  ilreetj, 
and  we  would    not  fpeak  to  them  :  wc  have  all  lived 
fn  the  midfl:  of  an  ignorant,   worldly,  unholy  people  ; 
and  we  have  not  fpoke  to  them  with  earneftnefs,  phin- 
nefs,  and  love  ;  no  wonder  then  if  God  fpeak  in  his 
wrath  both  to  them  and  us.      Eli  did  not  commit  the 
fin  himfelf,  and   yet  he  fpeaketh  fo  coldly  againft  it, 
that  he  muft  bear   the  punifliment.     God  locketh  up 
the  clouds,  btcaufe  we  have  (hut  up  our  mouths.    The 
earth  is  grown  as  hard  as  iron  to  us,  becaufe  we  have 
hardened  our  hearts  againft  our  mifcrable  neighbour*; 
The  cries  of  the  poor  for  bread  are  lo'jd,  becaufe  oiw       a^^^ 
ciies  againft  fin   have  been  fo  low.     Sickneffes  run  %  -^••^^ 
pace  from  houfe  to  houfe,  and  fweep  away  the  pool 
unprepared  inhabitants,  becaufe  we  fwept  not  out  the 
fin  that  breedeth  them.    As  Chrlll  faid  in  another  cafe,  .  r/»fc- 
Luke  xix.  30.   If  ihefe  JJjould  hold  their  peace,  theJIonef'^JuM 
'would fpeak  :  fo,  becaufe  we  held  our  peace  at  the  ig-   ^m 
norance,  ungodlinefs,  and  wickedncfs  of  our    places, 
therefore  do  thefe  plagues  and  judgments  fpeak. 

4.  Confider,  What  a  thing  it  will  be,  to  look  up- 
on your  poor  friends  in  thofe  flames,  and  to  think 
that  your  neglect  was  a  great  caufe  of  it  !  And  that 
there  was  a  time  when  you  might  have  done  much  to 
prevent  it.  If  you  fhould  there  perifh  with  them,  it 
would  be  no  fmall  aggravation  of  your  torment !  If 
you  be  in  heaven,  it  would  fure  be  a  fad  thought, 
•were  it  poflible  that  any  forrow  could  dwell  there,  to 
hear  a  multitude  of  poor  fouls  there  to  cry  out  for  ever. 
O  if  you  would  but  have  told  me  plainly  of  my  fin 
and  danger,  and  dealt  roundly  with  me,  I  might  have 
efcaped  all  this  torment,  and  been  now  in  reil  !  O 
what  a  fad  voice  will  this  be  ! 

5.  Confider,  How  diligent  are  the  enemies  of  thefe 
poor  fouls  to  draw  them  to  hell.  And  if  no  body  be 
diligent   in   helping  theni  to  heaven,  what  is  like  to 

j?%tcome 


ai. 


dill 
^     ilal 


22 S    The  Saints  Evcrlajling  Reft. 

become  of  them  ?  The  devsl  is  tempting  them  day 
and  night  :  their  inward  hifts  are  llill  working  an^ 
withdrawing  them  :  the  flefli  is  ftill  pleading  for  its 
deh'ghts  and  profits  :  their  old  companions  are  ready 
to  entice  them  to  fin,  and  to  difgrace  God's  ways 
and  people  to  them,  and  to  contradicl  the  dodrine  of 
Chrift  that  fliould  fave  them,  and  to  increafe  their  dif- 
like  of  holinefs.  Seducing  teachers  are  exceeding 
diligent  in  fowing  tares,  and  in  drawing  off  the  un- 
flablc  from  the  way  to  life  :  and  fhall  a  feducer  be 
unwearied  in  profelyting  poor  unguarded  fouls  to 
fancies?  And  fliall  not  a  found  chrillian  be  much 
ipre  unwearied  ir.  labouring  to  win  men  to  Chrill  and 
? 


6.  Confidcr,  The  neglefl  of  this  doth  vety  deeply 
wound  when  confcience  is  awakened.  When  a  man 
comes  to  die,  confcience  will  aflc  him.  What  good 
hall  thou  done  in  thy  life-time  ?  The  faving  of  fouls 
is  the  greateft  good  ;  What  haft  thou  done  towards 
this  ?  How  main'  haft  thou  dealt  faithfully  with  ?  I 
have  oft  obferved,  that  the  confciences  of  dying  men- 
very  much  wound  them  for  this  omifiion.  For  my 
own  part  (to  tell  you  my  experience)  when  ever  I 
have  been  near  death,  my  confcience  hath  accufed  me 
more  for  this  tiian  for  any  fin  :  it  would  bring  every 
Ignorant,  profane  neighbour  to  ray  remembrance,  to 
whom  I  never  made  known  theii  danger  :  it  would 
tell  me,  thou  fhouldft  have  gone  to  them  in  private, 
and  told  them  plainly  of  their  defperate  danger,  with- 
out bafhfulnefs  or  daubing,  though  it  had  been  when 
thou  fiiouldft  have  eaten  or  flept,  if  thou  hadft  no  other 
time  :  confcience  would  remember  me,  how  at  fuch 
a  time,  orfach  a  time,  1  was  in  company  with  the  ig- 
norant, or  was  riding  by  the  way  with  a  wilful  finner, 
and  had  a  fit  opportunity  to  have  dealt  with  him,  but 
did  not ;  or  at  Icaft  did  it  by  halves,  and  to  httle  pur- 
pofe.^  The  Lord  grant  I  may  better  obey  confcience 

hereafter 


The  Saints  Emerla/iing  RtH.    iir^ 

hereafter  while  I  live  and  have  time,  that  it  may  have 
lefs  to  accufe  me  of  at  death  ! 

7.  Confidtr,  laftly,  the  happy  confequences ')r''this 
work,  vvhr-re  it  is  faithfully  done  :  to  narriL-  fome  : 

1.  You  may  be  inftriimmtal  in  that  bleffed  work  of 
faving  fouls,  a  wo)  k  thac  Ciirirt  ta.r.e  down  and  died 
for,  a  work  that  the  angels  of  Gv)d  rtjoice  in  :  for, 
faith  the  Holy  Ghoft,  If  '^V  oj  you  do  err  fom  th, 
truth,  and  one  convert  h'lm^  let  him  knoiv^  that  he  -  h 
convffteth  thefinnefom  the  e  ro-  of  his  lUiy,  Jhall j 
a  foul  frm  'ie  Jh,  anijhall  hide  a  mu'/itud^  ' 
James  v.  19,  20.  And  how  can  God  more  highl 
honour  you,  than  to  make  you  inllruments  in  fo  great 
a  work  ? 

2.  Such  fouls  will  blefs  you  here  and  hereafter. 
They  ma)  be  angry  with  you  at  rirft  ;  but  if  your 
words  fucceed,  taey  will  blefs  the  day  that  ev  r  chcy 
knew  you,  and  blefs  God  ihat  fent  you  to  fpeak  to 
them. 

3.  It  bringeth  much  advantage  to  youvfelves  :  firll, 
it  will  increafe  your  graces,  both  as  it  is  a  courfe  tiiat 
God  will  blefs,  and  as  it  is  an  adlni>-  of  them  in  this 
perluading  of  others  :  he  that  will  not  let  you  lofe  a 
cup  of  water  which  is  given  for  him,  will  not  let  you 
lofe  thefe  greater  works  of  charity  ;  befides,  thofe  that 
have  pradlifed  this  duty,  muft  find  tjv  experience,  that 
they  never  go  on  more  profperoufly  towards  heaven, 
than  when  they  ^o  mod  to  help  otuc-rs  thither  with 
them  ;  it  is  not  here  as  with  worldly  treafure.  the 
more  you  give  away,  tlie  lefs  you  have  ;  but  the  more 
you  give,  the  more  you  have  :  the  fetting  forth  '^hrid 
in  his  fulnefs  to  others,  will  warm  your  own  hearts  ; 
the  opening  the  evil  and  danger  of  fin  to  others, 
will  increafe  your  hatred  of  it.     Secondly,  it  will  in- 

U  creai^ 


230    Th^  Saints  Ever  la/ling  Re/!. 

creafe  your  gloiy  as  well  as  your  grace,  both  as  a  du- 
ty which  God  will  reward,  (For  they  that  convert  ma' 
ny  to  righleoufnefs  Jhalljhine  as  thejiars  for -ever  and  ever, 
Dan.  xii.  3     and  alfo  as  we  fhall  there  behold  them  in 
heaven,  and  be  their  afTociates  in    blefTednefs,  whom 
God  made  us  here  the  inftiuments  to  convert.     Third- 
ly, however,  it   will    give    us  much  peace  of  confci- 
ence,  whether  we  fucceed    or   not,  to  think   that  wc 
were  faithful,  and  did  our  bell  to  favc  them,  and  that 
e  are  clear  from  the  blood  of  all  men.   Fourthly    be- 
fid|^,  that  is  a  work,  that  if  it  fucceed  doth  exceed- 
j^  nigly  rejoice  an  honeft  heart  :  he  that  hath  any  ft  nfe 
'^^f  God's  honour,  or  the  leaft  affeftion  to  the  foul  of 
his  brother,  mufl  needs  rejoice  much  at  his  converfion, 
^^whofoever   be   the   initrumcnt,    but  efpecially    when 
'    God  maketh  ourfelvcs  the  means  of  fo  bleffed  a  work. 

For  my  own  part,  it  is  an  unfpeakable  comfort  to 
me,  that  God  hath  made  mc  an  inftrument  for  the 
recovering  of  fo  many .  from  "bodily  difeafes,  and 
faving  their  natural  lives  ;  but  all  this  is  nothing  to 
the  comfort  I  have  in  the  fuccefs  of  my  labours,  in  the 
converfion  and  confir-mation  of  fouls;  it  is  fo  great 
a  joy  to  me,  that  it  drowneth  the  painfulnefs  of  my 
daily  duties,  and  the  trouble  of  my  daily  langulfhing 
and  bodily  griefs.  And  maketh  all  thefe,  with  all  op- 
pofitions  and  difficulties  in  my  woik,  to  be  eafy  :  and 
of  all  the  perfonal  mercies  that  ever  I  received,  next 
to  his  love  in  Chrift  to  my  foul,  I  moft  joyfully  blefs 
him  for  the  plenteous  fuccefs  of  my  endeavours  upon 
others  :  O  what  fruits  then  niight  I  have  feen,  if  I 
had  btcn  more  faithful,  and  plied  the  work  in  pri- 
vate and  public  as  1  ought !  I  know  we  have  need  to 
be  very  jealous  of  our  deceitful  hearts  in  this  point, 
left  <)'  :  rejoicing  fliould  come  from  our  pride.  Na- 
turally we  would  eveiy  man,  be  in  the  place  of  God, 
and  have  the  praife  of  every  good  work  afcribed  to 
ourfelves ;  but  yet  to  imitate  our  Father  in  goodnefs, 

and 


Tht  Saints  Everlaflhig  Rejl,     23 1 

find  to  rejoice  In  that  degree  we  attain  to,  is  the  part 
of  every  cliild  of  God.  I  tell  you  therefore,  to  per- 
fuade  you  from  my  own  experience,  that  if  you  did 
but  know  what  a  joyful  thing  it  is  to  be  an  indru- 
^nent  for  the  faving  of  fouls,  you  would  fet  upon  It 
prefently,  and  follow  it  night  and  day  through  tlie 
greateft  difcouragemcnts  and  refiftance. 

And  thus  I  have  fhewed  you  what  ihould  perfuade 
you  to  this  duty.  Let  me  now  conclude  with  a  word 
of  entreaty  :  firft,  to  all  the  godly  in  general.  Second- 
ly, to  fome  above  others  in  particular. 

C  li  A  P.    XIV. 

An  Advice  to  fome  more  particularly  to  help 
others  to  this  Rcji. 

UP  then  every  man  that  hath  a  tongue,  and  is  a 
fervant  of  Chriil,  and  do  fomething  of  this  your 
Mafter's  work  ;  Why  hath  he  given  you  a  tongue  but 
to  fpeak  in  his  fervice  ?  And  how  can  you  ferve  him 
more  eminently,  tiian  in  the  faving  of  fouls  ?  Ke  that 
will  pronounce  you  blefled  at  the  lalt  day,  and  fentence 
you  to  the  kingdom  prepared  for  you,  becaufe  yon  fed 
him,  and  clothed  him,  and  vifited  him,  in  his  mem- 
bers, will  furely  pronounce  you  bleffed  for  fo  great  a 
work  as  the  bringing  over  of  iouls  to  his  kingdom. 
He  that  faith,  T  he  poor  you  have  ahu^ays  ^-/ith  you,  hath 
left  the  ungodly  always  with  you,  that  you  might  ftiil 
have  matter  to  exercife  your  charity  upon.  O  if  you 
have  the  hearts  of  C/jri/Iims,  or  of  men  in  you,  let 
them  yearn  towards  your  poor,  ignorant,  ungodly 
neighbours  !  Ala>,  there  is  hut  a  Uep  betwiKt  them, 
aud  d'jath  and  hell  j  many  hundred  difeafes  are  wait- 

insr 


f 


232     The  Saints  E-verlaJI'mg  Reft, 

ing  ready  to  feize  them,  and  if  they  die  unregenerate, 
they  are  loft  for-ever.  Have  you  hearts  of  rock,  that 
cannot  pity  inen  in  fiich  a  cafe  ?  If  you  bch'tvf  not  the 
word  of  God,  how  are  you  chriftians  yourfelvts  ?  If 
you  do  but  btlleve  it,  why  do  you  not  beftiv  you  to 
help  others?  Do  you  not  care  who  is  dannned,  fo  you 
be  favtrd  ?  If  fo,  you  have  as  much  caufe  to  pity  your- 
ownfelves  ;  for  it  is  a  frame  of  fpirit  inconfiitent  with 
grace :  fhould  you  not  rather  fay,  as  the  lepers  of 
Sam  iria^  is  it  not  a  day  of  glad  tidings,  arc!  we  fit 
flill,  and  hold  our  peace  ?  Hath  God  had  fo  much  mer- 
cy on  you,  and  will  you  have  no  mercy  on  yorr  poor 
neighbours  ?  Yoti  need  not  go  far  to  find  objedis  for 
youi  pity  :  look  but  into  the  ftreets,  or  into  the  next 
houle  to  you,  and  you  will  probably  find  fome.  H^ive 
you  not  a  neiglibour  that  fets  his  heart  below,  and 
uegle(::teth  eternity  ?  What  bliflcd  place  do  you  h've 
in,  where  there  is  none  fuch  ?  If  there  be  not  fome 
ot  them  in  thine  own  fainily,  it  is  well  ;  and  yet  art 
thou  filent  ?  Dod  thou  live  clofe  by  them,  or  meet 
th', m  in  the  (hvets,  or  labour  with  them,  or  travel  with 
thern,  or  fit  ftill  and  talk  with  them,  and  fay  nothing 
to  them  of  their  fouls,  or  the  life  to  come  ?  If  their 
houfes  were  on  fire,  thou  wouldft  run  and  help  them  ; 
and  wilt  thou  not  help  them  when  their  fouls  are  al- 
mc/li  at  the  fire  of  hell  ?  If  thou  knoweft  but  a  remedy 
for  their  difeafes  tliou  wouldft  tell  it  them:  or  <^lfe  thou 
wouldll  judge  thyfdf  guilty  of  their  death.  CarHan 
fp(;aks  of  one  that  had  a  receipt  that  would  difiblve  the 
ftone  in  the  bladdf  r,  and  he  makts  no  doubt  but  that 
man  is  in  hell,  bfcaufe  he  never  revealed  it  to  any  be- 
fore he  di-^d  :  what  (hall  we  fay  then  of  them  that 
know  the  remedy  for  curing  fouls,  and  do  not  reveal 
it  ;  nor  perfuade  mtn  to  make  ufe  of  it  ?  Is  it  not  hy-» 
pocrify  to  pray  that  Cod's  mme  may  re  hailowed^  and 
never  endeavour  to  bring  men  to  halloif  it  ?  And  can. 
you  pray,  Let  thy  kingdom  come;  and  yet  never  labour 
for  the  coming  or  increafe  of  that  kingdom  I  Is  it  not 

grief 


The  Saints  Everlajling  Reft,     23-3 

gnef  to  your  hearts  to  iee  the  kingdom  of  Satan  flou- 
rifh,  and  to  fee  him  lead  captive  fiich  a  multitude  of 
fouls?  you  fay  you  are  foldiers  of  Chrift  :  and  will 
you  do  nothing  agalnft  his  pevailing  enemies  ?  You 
pray  alfo  daily,  That  h'ls  toill  may  he  dons ;  and 
Ihould  you  not  daily  then  perfuade  men  to  do  it  ? 
You  pray,  That  God  ivould forgive  them  their Jins,  and 
that  he  u>:uld  not  lead  them  into  tempt ntv.n.,  but  deliver 
them  fro:n  evil.  And  yet  will  you  not  help  them  againft 
temptations,  nor  help  to  deliver  them  from  the  great- 
ell  evil  ?  Nor  help  them  to  repent  and  believv",  that 
they  may  be  forgiven  ?  Alas,  that  your  prayers  and 
your  praflice  fliould  fo  much  difagree  !  Look  about 
you  therefore,  chriftians,  with  an  eye  of  compaffion  on 
the  finners  about  you  ;  be  not  like  the  Priell  or  Lcvite 
that  faw  the  man  wounded,  and  paHed  by  :  God  did 
not  fo  pafs  by  you,  when  it  was  your  own  cafe.  Are 
not  the  fouls  of  your  neighbours  fallen  into  the  hands 
ofSa:an  ?  Dothlwot  their  mifery  cry  out  to  you,  htip, 
help  !  As  you  have  any  compaffion  towards  men  in  the 
greateil  mlft-ry,  help  !  As  you  have  the  hearts  of  men, 
and  not  of  tygers  in  yop,  help  i 

But  a?  this  dutT-lieth  upon  ail  in  general,  fo  UDqn 
fome  more  tfpecially,  according  as  God  hath  .  alicd 
or  qualified  liiem  thereto.  To  them  therefore  more 
paiticularly  1  will  addrefs  my  exhortation  :  v^'hether 
they  be  fuch  as  have  more  opportunity  and  advanta- 
ges for  this  worky  or  fuch  as  have  better  abilities  to 
ptrform  if. 

I.  All  you  that  God  hath  given  m,ore  learnln'T  and 
knowledge  to,  or  endued  with  better  utterance  than 
your  neighbours  ;  God  expeclcth  this  duty  efpecially 
at  your  hand.  The  ftrong  are  made  to  help  the  weak, 
and  thofe  that  fee  mu(l  direiSt  the  blind.  GoJ  look- 
eth  for  this  faithful  improvement  of  your  parts  and 
gifts,  which  if  you  Kegled,  it  were  better  for  you  that 


2  34     ^^^  Saints  Eveiiafiing  Rcjl. 

you  never  had  received  them  :  for  they  will  but  fur- 
ther your  condemnation,  and  be  as  ufelefs  to  your 
own  lalvation  as  they  are  to  others. 

2.  All  tl.ofe  that  have  efpecially  familiarity  with 
fame  ungodly  men,  and  that  have  Inttreft  in  them, 
God  looks  fnr  this  duty  at  their  hands.  Chrill  him- 
felf  did  eat  and  drink  with  the  publicans  and  fiOners, 
but  it  V  as  oiily  to  be  their  phyilcian,  and  not  their 
con.panion.  God  might  give  you  intereft  in  them 
to  this  end,  that  you  might  be  a  m.eans  of  their  re- 
covtry.  ihey  that  will  not  rcgaid  the  words  of  ano- 
ther, will  tegaid  a  brother,  or  fiUer,  or  huiband,  or 
wife,  or  near  friend  :  befides  that  the  bond  of  friend- 
fhip  doth  engage  you  to  more  kindnefs  and  compaf- 
fion. 

3.  Phyficians  that  are  much  about  dying  men,  {hould 
in  a  fpcclal  rr.anner  make  a  gonfcience  of  this  duty: 
tht-y  have  a  treble  advantage.  Firft,  thty  are  at  hand. 
Secondly,  they  are  with  men  in  Hcknefs  and  dangers, 
when  the  ear  is  more  open,  and  the  heart  lefs  ftubborn 
than  in  time  of  health.'  He  that  made  a  fcorn  of 
godllnefs' before,  will  hear  counfcl  then,  if  ever  he 
will  hear  it.  Thi'dly.  befides,  they  look  upon  their 
phyiician  as  a  man  in  whofe  hand  is  their  life  :  or  w  ho 
at  Ualt  may  do  much  to  fave  them,  and  therefore  they 
will  the  fnore  regard  his  advice.  Therefore  you  that 
are  of  thib  honourable  profeflion,  do  not  think  this  a 
work  befide  your  calling,  as  If  it  beloiigcd  to  none 
but  minillers  ;  except  you  think  it  befide  your  cal- 
ling to  be  compaflionate,  or  to  be  chriftinns.  Help 
to  fit  yoi:r  patients  for  heaven,  and  whether  you  fee 
they  are  fur  life  or  death,  teach  tin  m  both  how  to  live 
and  how  to  die,  and  give  them  fomc  phyCc  for  their 
fouls,  as  you  do  U>x  their  bodies.  BlelTed  be  God  that  ' 
very  many  of  the  chief  phyiicians  of  ibis  age  have   by 

their 


The  Saints  EverlaJJlng  Refl^    235 

their  eminent   piety,  vindicated  their  profefiion  froift 
the  common  Imputation  ofatheifm  and  profanencfs. 

4.  Another  fort  that  have  excellent  advantage  for 
this  duty,  are  men  that  have  weakh  and  authority, 
and  are  of  great  place  or  conuaand  in  the  woild, 
eipt'clally  that  have  many  who  live  in  dependence  on 
them.  O  vvhat  a  urorld  of  good  migtit  gentlemen 
and  lords  do,  that  have  a  great  many  tenants,  and 
that  are  the  leaders  of  the  country,  if  they  had  but 
hearts  to  improve  their  intereil  and  advantage  !  Little 
do  you  that  are  fuch,  think  of  the  duty  that  lies  upon 
you  in  this.  Have  you  not  ail  honour  and  riches 
from  God  ?  Is  it  not  evident  then,  that  you  muft 
employ  them  for  the  advantage  of  his  fervice  ?  Do 
Vwu  not  Itnow  who  hath  faid,  'Thai  to  ivhom  men  coiri' 
mit  wuchf  from  them  they  iv'ill  exped  the  more  ? 

You  have  the  greateil  opportunities  to  do  good,  of 
moll  men  in  tiie  Vi-orid.  Your  tenants  dare  not  ci)n- 
tjadi£l  you,  Kft  you  dipofrefs  them  or  their  children 
of  their  habitations:  tney  fear  you  more,  than  t!ie 
thrcatentngs  of  the  fcriptures  ;  they  will  foC'P.er  obey 
you  than  God.  If  you  fpeak  to  them  of  Gtid  and 
their  fouls,  you  may  be  regarded,  when  even  a  mi- 
ni'ler  fhall  be  defpifed.  O  therefore  as  you  value  the 
honour  of  God,  your  own  comfort,  and  the  falvati- 
on  of  fiU^g  improve  your  inter^rft  to  the  utmoft 
for  God.  G)  vifit  your  tenants' and  neighbours'  houfcs, 
and  fee  \\  hctlier  tiiey  worfhip  God  in  their  famdi-?, 
and  take  all  opportunities  to  prtfs  them  to  their  du- 
ties. Do  not  dcfpife  thein,  becaufe  they  are  poor  or 
ii  riple.  Remember,  God  is  no  rtfpefter  of  perfons  ; 
your  flcfli  is  of  no  better  metal  than  tlieirs  ;  nor  will 
the  worms  fpare  your  faces  or  iiearts  any  more  than 
titcirs;  nor  will  your  bones  or  dult  boar  the  badge  of 
your  gentility  ;  you  mult  be  all  equals  vvhtn  you 
ii.iiid  ::;  jtid^meiu  j  uftd   ll.';ivfo;\:  iicip  the  foul  of  a 


2-3^      The  Saints  Everlafilng  Refl. 

poor  man,  as  well  as  if  he  were  a  gentleman  :  and  let' 
men  fee  that  you  excel  others  as  much  in  piety,  hea- 
venlinefs,  compaflion  and  diligence  in  God's  woik^ 
as  you  do  in  riclics  and  honour. 

I  conft fs  you  are  like  to  be  fingular  if  you  tak-c 
this  courfc  ;  bat  then  remember,  you  (hall  be  fingular 
in    glory,    for  feiv  great,,  and  inighty,    and  nobis  are 

culled. 


5.  Another  fort  that  have  fpecisl  opportunity  to 
help  others  to  heaven,  are  the  miniftcrs  of  the  gofpcl.: 
as  they  have,  or  Ihould  have  more  ability  than  others^ 
fo  it  is  the  very  work  oftlieir  calliiig  ;  and  every 
one  expecSteth  it  at  their  hands,  and  will  better  fub- 
mit  to  their  teacJiers,  than  to  others.  1  intend  not 
thcfe  iullruvilions  fo  much  to  teachers,  as  to  others^ 
and  therefore  I  (hall  fay  but  little  to  them  ;  and  if  all,, 
or  mod  miniilers  among  us  were  as  faithful  and  dili- 
gent as  fome,  I  would  fay  nothing.  But  becaufe  it 
is  other  wife,  let  me  give  thefe  two  or  three  words  of 
advice  to  my  brethren  iu  tliis  ofiicc. 

I.   Be  fure  thr.t  the  recovering  and  faving  fouls,  be 
the  main    end  of  your   fiudics   and  ptcaciiing.      Oda. 
not  propound    any    low    and    bafe  ends  to  yourfclves-. 
This  is  the  end  of  your  calling,  let   it  be  aifo  the  end . 
of  your    endeavours.      God,  forbid   that    you   fliould 
fpend  a  w'eek's  itudy  to  pleafe  the  people,  or  to  feek . 
the  advancing  your  own  reputations.    Dare  you  appear 
in  the  pulpit  on  fucha  bufmcfsjand  fpeakfor  yourfelves, 
when  you  are  fent  and    pretend   to  fpeak  for  Chrift  ? 
Set   out   the   work    of  God   as   d<ilfully  as  you  can  ;  • 
but  (lill  let  the    winning  of  fouls  be  your  end,  and  al- 
ways judge  that  the  bdl  means,  that  mod  conduceth 
to  tlie  end.      Do  not  think  that  God  is  bed  ferved  by 
a  neat,  ftarched  oration  ;   but  that  he  is  the  able,  (l<il- 
ful  roinitUr,  that  ii.bcft  fiiilled  in  the  art  of  inftru6t- 


The  Saints  Everlafling  Re/i.     237 

jng,  convincing,  perfiiading,  and  that  is  the  bed  ftr- 
mon  that  is  hell  in  tfiefe.  Let  the  vigor  alfo  of  your 
perruafioiis  (hfw,  that  you  are  fcnfible  on  hew  weigh- 
ty a  bufinefs  you  are  fent.  Preach  with  that  fcriouf- 
nefn  and  fervour  as  men  that  believe  their  own  doc- 
trine, and  know  their  hearers  mull  either  be  prevail- 
ed with,  0.  be  damned  What  you  would  do  to  fnve 
them  fr<>m  everl.iiling  burning,  tf)at  do  wluie  you  have 
the  opportunity,  and  price  in  your  hand,  that  pe';ple 
may  difrern  you  mean  as  you  fpeak  ;  and  thtt  you 
aie  nMt  Itage  players,  hut  preachers  of  the  do6lrine  of 
falvation.  Remeinbtrr  what  Cicero  faith,  "  That  if 
•*  thcr  matter  be  never  f»)  combuftible,  yet  if  you  put 
**  not  fire  to  it,  it  will  lot  burn.'*  And  what  Eraf- 
muf  iaith  '*  ^  'sat  an  hot  iron  will  pierce,  when  a  cold 
**  ir\c  will  not  "  nd  if  the  wife  men  of  the  world 
account  you  mad,  fav  as  Paul,  If  roe  are  bejine  our- 
fclwi.  it  is  to  God :  and  remtmhtr  that  Chrift  was  fo 
bufy  in  doing  of  good,  that  hi^  friends  tlicmlclvci  be- 
gun to  lay  hands  on  him,  thinking  he  had  been  btiide 
himfclf,  Mark  iii. 

3-  The  fecond  and  chief  word  of  advice  that  I 
would  give  you,  is  thi>  :  do  not  think  that  all  your 
work  is  in  ftudies,  and  in  the  pulpit.  I  confcfs  that 
is  great  ;  but,  alas  !  it  is  but  a  fmall  part  of  ycnr 
tafl-c.  Vou  are  fhepherds  and  muil  know  every  llieep, 
and  what  is  their  difcafe,  and  mark  their  (trayings, 
and  help  to  cure  them,  and  fetch  them  home. 

O  learn  of  Pa«/,  A6l\  xx,  1 9,  20,3?  *°  preach 
publicly,  and  from  houfe  to  houfc,  niglit  and  day 
with  tears.  T^et  there  not  be  a  foul  in  your  charge 
that  fliall  i!ot  be  paiticularly  ii;l>rjCted  and  watched 
over.  Go  from  houfe  to  houfe  daily,  and  enquire 
h  >w  they  grow  in  knov\ ledge  and  holinefe,  and  on 
what  grounds  they  build  their  hopes  of  falvation ; 
3ud  whether  they  walk  uprightly  and  perform  the  du- 


238     The  Saints  'Ev€rlaflmg  Reft. 

ties  c'f  their  fcveral  relations,  and  ufe  the  means  ♦©• 
fncreaie  their  abiliiics.  See  whether  they  daily  wor- 
(hip  God  in  thtir  families,  and  fct  them  in  a  way, 
and  teach  them  how  to  do  it  ;  confer  with  them  about 
tht^  do(!"tnne6  and  pra£ii  -c  of  religion,  and  how  they 
receive  and  profit  by  pu-^lic  tea.cliino%  and  anfwer  all. 
their  carnal  objections  ;  kcepia  famili?rity  with  tnem 
that  you  may  maintain  your  intereft  in  thtm,  and 
improve  all  your  intereft  for  God.  See  that  no  fe- 
ducers  creep  in  amongll  them,  or  if  they  do,  be  dili- 
gent to  countermine  them,  arid  preferve  your  people 
from  the  inffdtion  of  herefies  and  fchifms  ;  or  if  they 
be  infected,  be  diligent  to  procure  their  recovery  ; 
not  with  paffion  and  lordlir.cfs,  but  with  patience  and 
condefccnfioji  :  as  Mafculus  did  by  the  Anahapttjis^ 
vlfiting  t})em  in  prifon,  where  the  raag'.ibate  had  cift 
them,  and  there  inilrufting  and  relieving  them  ;  and 
though  they  reviled  Kim  wiien  he  came,  and  called 
him  a  falfe  j)rophet  and  antichriftian  feducei  tliat 
thirOed  for  their  blood,  yet  he  would  not  10  leawe 
them,  till  at  lafl  by  hss  meekncfs  and  love  he  had 
overcome  them,  and  recovered  many  to  the  truth,, 
and  to  unity  with  the  church. 

If  any  be  iveak  in  the  fnith^  receive  h'lm,  but  not  to 
doubtful  ilifpufattonf.  If  any  be  too  carekTe  of  their, 
duties,  and  too  httle  favour  the  thi^ig?  of  the  Spirit,, 
let  them  be  pitied,  and  not  negk  Atd  :  if  any  walk, 
fcandaloufiy  and  dilo'.derly,  dtal  with  them  for  their, 
rcx:overy,  with  all  diligence  and  pntienqe,  and  ftt  be- 
fore tl.em  the  heinouintfs  and.  danger  of  th(-ir  fin  :  if' 
they  prove  obuinate,  aftei  c.ll,  thtii  avoid  the.m,  and 
cafl:  them  olf :  if  they  be  ignorant*  it  may  be  your 
fault  as  well  aa  theirc  ;  but  however,  they  are  f-Lier 
to  be  inflruc^ed  than  rtjeilcd,  except  they  abfolutcly 
refufe  to  be  taught.  Chjlil  will  give  you  no  thanks 
^r  keeping,  or  putting  out  fuch  from  his  fchool  that 
■are   unlearned,   vvhen   their   (Jefire    or    will  is  to  be 

taught?. 


I 


The  Saints  Everhijling  Reft,    239 

-fanght.  I  confefs  it  is  eafier  to  (liut  out  the  igno- 
rant, than  to  beftow  oar  pains  night  and  day  in  teach- 
ing them  ;  but  wo  to  fuch  flothful,  unfaithful  fer- 
Vants.  Who  then  is  a  faithful  and  a  wife  fcrvant, 
whom  his  lord  hath  made  rula*  over  his  houfehold,  to 
give  them  their  meat  in  due  feafon,  according  to 
every  one's  age  and  capacity  ?  Blejed  is  that  fervanf, 
tuhom  his  Lord^  when  he  coineth^Jhallfindfo  doing,  O 
be  not  afleep  while  the  wolf  is  waking  !  Let  your 
eye  be  quick  in  obferving  the  dangers  and  ftrayings 
of  your  people.  If  jealoufies,  heart-burnings,  or  con- 
tentions at  ife  among  them,  quench  them  before  they 
break  out  into  ragfng,  irrefillible  flames  As  foon 
as  you  difcern  any  to  turn  worldly,  or  proud,  or  fac- 
tious, or  felf-conceited,  or  difobedient,  or  cold,  and 
flothful  in  his  duty  ;  delay  not,  but  prefently  make 
out  for  his  recovery  :  remember  how  many  are  lofers 
in  the  lofs  of  a  foul. 

^.  Do  not  daub,  or  deal  flightly  with  any  ;  fomc 
will  not  tell  their  people  plainly  of  their  fins,  btcaufe 
tliey  are  great  men  ;  as  if  none  but  the  poor  fliould 
plainly  be  dealt  with:  do  not  you  fo,  but  reprove 
them  (harply,  i  though  differently  and  with  wifdom) 
that  they  may  be  found  in  faith.  God  doth  fuffici- 
ently  engage  us  to  deal  plainly  ;  he  hath  bid  us  fpea^ 
and  fear  not  :  he  hath  promifed  to  (land  by  us  ;  and 
he  will  be  our  fecurity.  I  had  rather  hear  from  the 
mouth  of  Balaky  God  h  ith  kept  thee  from  honour  ;  or 
"from  Ahah^  feed  him  'with  the  bread  and  water  of  of- 
Jlidion ;  than  to  hear  confcience  fay,  Thou  haft  be 
ir ay ed  fouls  to  damnation  by  thy  cowardice  andjilence  ; 
or  to  hear  God  fay,  Their  bkod  ttn/I  I  require  at  thy 
hands  ;  or  to  hear  from  Chtift,  th  >  judge,  Cafi  the  un- 
profitable  fervant  into  outer  darknefsy  whi're  Jlmll  be 
weeping  and  gnafhing  of  teeth  \  yea^  or  to  hear  thefe 
f:nners  ciy  out  againft  me  in  eternal  fire,  and  with 
implacable  ra^e  to  charge  me  with  their  undoing. 

And 


240    T^he  Saints  Everlafling  Reji. 

And  as  you  muft  be  plain  and  ferious,  fo  labour 
to  be  fkiltul  and  difcreet,  that  the  manner  may  fomc- 
what  anfwer  the  excellency  of  the  matter.  How  oft 
have  I  heard  a  ftammeting  tongue,  with  tidiculous 
expicfiions,  vain  repetitions,  tedious  circumlocutions, 
and  unfcemly  pronunciation,  fpoil  molt  precious  df)C- 
trine,  and  make  the  hearers  either  loath  it,  or  laugh 
at  it  !  How  common  are  thefe  extremes,  while  one 
fpoils  the  food  of  life  by  affeftation,  and  ncw-fa(hion- 
ed  mincing,  and  pedantic  toys,  cither  fetting  forth  a 
little  and  mean  matter  with  a  great  deal  of  froth,  and 
gaudy  drefling  ;  or  hiding  excellent  truths  in  a  heap 
of  vain  rhetoric  on  the  other  fide  !  How  many  by 
their  flovenly  drefling,  make  men  loath  the  food  of 
life,  and  cart  up  that  which  fhould  nourifti  thtm  ! 
Such  novices  are  admitted  into  the  facied  fundlion, 
to  the  hardening  of  the  viacked,  and  the  diigrtce  of 
the  work  of  the  Lord  ;  and  thofe  that  are  not  able 
tofpeak  fenfe  or  reafon,  are  made  the  ambafladors  of 
the  moil  high  God. 

O  therefore  let  me  befpeak  you  my  brethren,  in 
the  name  of  the  Lord,  efpecially  thofe  that  are  more 
young  and  weak,  that  you  tremble  at  the  greatnefs 
of  this  holy  employment,  and  run  not  up  into  a  pul- 
pit as  boldly  as  into  the  market-place  ;  ftudy  and  pray, 
pray  and  liudy,  till  you  are  become  workmen  that 
need  not  be  afhamed,  rightly  dividing  the  word  of 
truth,  that  your  people  may  not  be  afhamed,  or  weary- 
to  hear  you  :  but  that  befides  your  clear  unfolding 
the  dodrine  of  the  gofpel,  you  may  alfo  be  matters 
of  your  people's  afFe<?l:ions.  It  is  a  work  that  requir- 
cth  your  moft  ferious  fearching  thoughts  :  running, 
hafly,  eafy  rtudies,  bring  forth  blind  births.  When 
you  are  the  moft  renowned  doctors  in  the  church  of 
God,  alas,  how  little  is  it  that  you  know,  in  com- 
parifon  of  all  that  which  you  are  ignorant  of  ! 

4.  Be 


I 


The  Saints  Everlq/Iing  JR.e/1,     241 

4.  Be  fure  that  your  coivwerfatlon  be  teacliing-  a* 
well  as  your  do£lrine.  Do  not  confute  your  dv)r'trine 
by  your  practice.  Be  as  forward  In  an  holy  and  };ea- 
venly  life,  as  you  arc  in  prclTing  it  on  others.  I.ct 
your  difcourfe  be  as  edifying  and  fpiritual,  as  you 
teach  them  theirs  mu(l  be:  for  evil  language  give 
them  good  ;  and  bltlling  for  their  curfing.  Suffer 
any  thing,  rather  tiiaii  the  gofptl  and  mtiv's  fouls 
jRiould  fuffer  :  Rscome  all  things  Javvful)  to  ch I  wen,  if 
iv  any  means  you  may  ivinjome.  Let  men  fee  that  you 
i)fe  not  the  rainillry  only  for  a  trade  to  live  by  ;  but 
that  your  hearts  are  fet  upon  the  welfare  of  ihcir  fouls. 
Whatfoever  meekncfs,  humihty,  cundefcenCon,  or 
felf-denial  you  teach  them  irom  the  gofpcl,  O  teach 
k  them  alfo  by  your  undiiTtmbled  example'.  This  is 
to  be  guides,  and  pilots,  and  governors  of  the  church 
indeed. 

What  an  odious  fight  is  it,  to  fee  pride  and  ambi- 
tion preach  humility  !  and  aa  earthly-minded  man 
preach  for  an  heavenly  ccnverfation  ! 

Do  I  need  to  tell  you  that  arc  teachers  of  other?, 
that  we  have  but  a  little  while  longer  to  preach  ?  And 
but  a  few  more  breaths  to  breathe  ?  \nd  then  we  mufk 
come  down,  and  be  accountable  for  our  work  ?  Do 
1  need  to  lell  you,  that  we  mufl  die,  and  be  judged 
as  well  as  our  people  ?  Or  that  juillce  i.->  moft  fcvere 
about  the  fancluary  I  And  judgment  beginneth  at  the 
houfe  of  God  ? 

5.  The  laft  whom  I  would  perfuade  to  this  great 
work  of  helping  others  to  the  heavenly  rell,  is  pa- 
rents, and  matters  of  families.  All  you  that  God 
hath  intruded  with  children  or  fervants,  confider 
what  duty  lieth  on  you  for  furthering  their  falvatlon. 
That  this  exhortation  may  be  the  more  efFedual  with 
X  you, 


2-42    The  Saints  Everlajiing  Refi. 

you,  I  will  lay    down  feveral  cbnfidetations  for  yoit* 
^rloufly  to  think  on. 

r.  What  plain  and  prefiing  commands  of  (^od  arc 
there,  that  require  this  great  duty  at  your  hand  ! 
Deut.  vi.  6,  7,  8.  And  thefe  ivonh  xihich  I  command 
thee  this  day  Jhall  be  in  thy  heart t  and  thou  Jhalt  teach 
them  diligeTitly  to  thy  children,  fpeakiny  of  them  when 
thou  fittejl  in  thy  houfe^  and  ivken  thm  tvalkejl  by  the 
'Way,  and  <whcn  thou  lieji  down,  and  whan  thou  rifejl 
vp.  And  how  well  is  God  pkafed  with  this  in  Jbra' 
ham,  Gen>  yyxu.  17,  19.  Shall  1  hide  from  Abraham 
that  thing  which  I  do  ?  For  I  know  him,  that  he  wi'l 
command  his  clMdren,  and  his  houfehold  after  him,  that 
they  Jhall  keep  the  way  of  the  Lord.  Prov.  xxii.  6. 
Train  up  a  child  in  the  way  he  Jljould  go^  and  when  he  » 
is  old,  he  will  not  depart  from  it.  So  that  you  fee  it  is  " 
a  work  that  the  Lord  of  heaven  and  earth  hath  laid  ' 
i3pon  you  ;  and  how  then  dare  you  negledl  it  ? 

2\  You  vt^III  elfe  be  witneffes  againfl  your  own 
fouls  :  your  great  care  and  pains,  and  coft  for  their 
bodies,  will  condemn  you  for  your  negleft  of  their 
precious  fouls  :  you  can  fpend  yourfelves  in  toiling 
and  caring  for  their  bodies,  and  even  negle<ft  yout 
owa  fouls,  and  venture  them  fometimes  upon  un^ 
warrantable  courfes,  arid  all  to  provide  for  your  po- 
ilerity  :  and  have  you  not  as  much  reafon  to  provide 
for  their  fouls  ?  Do  you  not  believe  that  your  chil- 
dren muft  be  everlaftingly  happy  or  miferable  ?  And 
ihould  not  that  be  fore-thought  in  the  firft  place  ? 

3.  Confider,  God  hath  made  your  children  to  be 
your  charge  ;  yea,  and  your  fervants  too  :  every  one 
will  confefs  they  are  the  minifter's  charge,  and  what 
a  dreadful  thing  is  it  for  them  to  negled  them,  when 
God  hath  told  them.  That  if  they  tell  not  the  wick- 
ed 


The  Saints  Everiafting  RsJ}.     243 

ed  of  their  fin  and  danger,  their  blood  fhall  be  re- 
,  quired  at  that  minifter's  hands  !  and  is  not  your  charge 
as  great  and  as  dreadfiil  as  theirs?  Have  not  you  a 
greater  charge  of  your  own  famih'es  than  any  mini- 
iter  hath  ?  Yea,  doubtlefs,  and  your  duty  it  is  to 
teach,  and  adaioniih,  and  reprove  tliem,  and  watch 
Qver  them,  at  your  hands  elfe  will  God  require  the 
blood  of  their  louls.  The  greateft  charge  it  is,  that 
qver  you  were  intriiflcd  with,  and  wo  to  yon  if  you 
prove  unfaithful,  and  betray  your  truft,  and  fuffer 
thetn  to  be  ignorant  for  want  of  your  teaching,  or 
uicked  for  want  of  your  admonitio.n  or  correction. 

4.  Look  into  the  difpofitions  and  lives  of  your 
children,  and  fee  what  a  work  there  is  for  you  to  do, 
Firjly  It  is  not  one  fin  that  you  muft  help  them  againll, 
but  thoufands;  their  name  is  legion,  for  they  are 
irany  :  it  is  not  one  weed  that  muft  be  pulled  up,  but 
the  field  is  ovcrfpiead  with  them.  Secon  I!y,?i\)'\  how 
hard  is  it  to  prevail  againll  any  one  of  them  !  They 
are  hereditary  difeafes,  bred  in  their  natures  :  th;^y 
arc  as  near  them  as  the  very  heart  ;  ann  how  tenacious 
are  all  things  of  that  which  is  natural  !  Howr  hard  to 
teach  a  hare  not  to  be  afraid,  or  a  lion  or  tyger  not  to 
be  fierce  !  Befides,  the  things  you  muft  teach  them, 
are  quite  above  them  ;  yea,  and  cltan  contrary  to 
the  intereft  and  .den res  of  their  fiefli :  how  hard  is  it 
50  teach  a  man  to  be  willing  to  be  poor  and  defpifed 
for  Chrift,;  to  deny  themfelve?,  and  difpleafe  the 
flefh  ;  to  forgive. an  enemy  ;  to  love  thofe  tliat  l.iite 
•  us ;  to  watch  again  ft  temptations  ;  to  avoid  occallons 
^nd  appearances  of  evil,;  to  believe  in  a  crucified  Savi- 
our ;  to  rejoice  in  tribulation  ;  to  make  God  their 
delignt  and  love  ;  and  to  have  their  heaits  in  heaven, 
while  they  live  on  earth  !  I  think  none  of  this  is  eafy, 
they  that  think  otherwife,  let  thtm  try  and  judge  ; 
yet  all  this  muft  be  karr.ed,  or  they  are  undone  for- 
ever.    If  you  help  them  not  to  fome  trade,  they  can- 


244     The  Samts  Everlajling  Reft. 

not  live  In  the  world  ;  but  if  they  be  deflitute  of 
thtfe  things,  they  (hall  not  live  in  heaven.  If  the 
mariner  be  not  fldlful,  he  may  be  drowned  ;  and  if 
the  foldler  be  not  {]<i]ful,4ie  may  be  flain  :  but  they 
that  cannot  do  the  tilings  above-mtntioned,  will  pe- 
rish for  ever  ;  For  'without  holinefs  no  manJhalifeeGoA. 
O  that  the  Lord  would  make  all  you  that  are  parent* 
fenfiblewhat  a  work  and  charge  doth  lie  upon  you  ! 
You  that  neglefl  this  important  work,  and  talk  to 
your  families  of  nothing  but  the  world,  I  tell  you 
the  blood  of  fouls  lies  on  yon  :  make  as  light  of  it  as 
you  will,  if  you  repent  not  and  amend,  the  Lord 
will  fliortly  call  you  to  an  account  for  the  guilt  of 
your  children's  evcrlalb'ng  undoing. 

5.  Think  with  yourfelves,  what  a  world  of  com- 
fort you  may  have  if  you  be  fa!thful  in  tliis  duty  :  if 
you  (hould  not  fueceed,  yet  you  Ijave  freed  your  own 
fouls  ;  and  thongh  it  be  fad,  yet  you  may  have  peiice 
in  your  own  confciences  :  but  if  you  do  fueceed,  the 
comfort  is  inexprefiible.  For,  i.  Good  children  will 
be  truly  loving  ta  their  parents ;  when  a  little  matter 
will  make  ungodly  children  cart  off  their -very  natural 
affi-^vElion.  2.  Good  children  will  be  mod  obedient 
to  you  ;  they  dare  not  difobey  yon,  becaufe  of  the 
command  of  God,  except  you  fliuuld  command  them 
that  which  is  unlawful,  and  then  they  muil  obey 
God  rather  than  men.  3.  And  if  you  fhould  fall 
into  want,  they  would  be  moll  faithful  in  relieving 
you,  as  k wowing  they  are  lied  by  a  do'ible  bend  of 
nature  and  of  grace.  4.  And  they  will  alfo  be  help- 
ers to  your  fouls  ;  they  will  be  delighting  you  with 
holy  conference  and  aclions ;  when  wicked  children 
will  be  grieving  you  with  curfmg,  and  fwearJng,  or 
drunkennefs,  ot  difobedicnce.  5.  But  the  greatefl 
joy  will  be  when  you  (hall  fay.  Here  am  /,  anr!  the 
chi! Iren  ib'>u  hajl  given  me.  And  are  not  all  thefc 
comforts  enoq^h  to  perfuade  you  .to  this  diity  ? 

:6,  .Cop/ider 


I 


1 


'The  'Saints  EverlaJIing  Reji,    -24-5 

•  6.  Confider  further,  that  the  very  welfare  of  church 
-mnd  (late  lleth  mainly  on  this  duty  of  well-educating 
children;  and  without  this,  all  other  means  are  like 
to  be  far  lefs  fuccefsful.  I  ferioufly  profcfs  to  you, 
that  I  verily  think  all  the  fins  and  miferies  of  the  land 
may  acknowledge  this  fin  for  their  nurfe.  It  is  not 
good  laws  and  orders  that  will  reform  us,  if  the  men 
be  not  good,  and  refoim.ation  begin  not  at  home  ; 
when  ciiildren  go  wicked  from  the  hands  of  their  pa- 
rents, in  every  profeiTion  they  bring  this  fruit  of  their 
education  with  them.  I  tell  you  ferioufly,  this  is 
the  caufe  of  all  our  miferies  in  church  and  llate,  even 
'  the  want  of  a  holy  education  of  children.  Many 
lay  the  blame  on  this  negled,  and  that  ;  but  there  is 
none  hath  fo  great  a  hand  in  it  as  this. 

7.  I  entreat  you  that  are  parents,  to  confider  what 
excellent  advantages  you  have  .above  all  otheis  for  the 
faving  of  your  children. 

J.  They  are  under  your  hands  while  they  are 
young,  and  tender,  and  flexible  ;  but  they  come  to 
njiniRers  when  they  are  grown  older,  and  ftiffer,  and 
fettled  in  their  ways,  and  think  themfelves  too  good 
to  be  catechifed.  You  have  a  twig  to  bend,  and  we 
an  oak  ;  you  have  the  young  plants  of  fin  to  pluck 
up,  and  we  the  deep-rooted  vices.  The  confcienccs 
of  children  are  not  fo  feared  with  a  cuftom  of  finning, 
and  long  re-fifting  grace,  as  others.  You  have  the 
foft  and  tender  earth  to  plough  in,  and  we  have  the 
hard  and  ftony  ways,  that  have  been  trodden  on  by 
many  years  praftice  of  evjL  We  have  a  double  taflc, 
firll  to  unteach  them,  and  then  to  teach  them  better  ; 
but  you  have  but  one.  -We  muit  unteach  them  all 
that  the  world,  and  the  f.efli,  and  vvigked  company, 
and  the  devil  have  been  diligently  teaching  them  in 
many  years.  You  have  them  before  they  f.re  po(r;:fred 
^.Y/ith  prejudice  againft  the  truth  3  but  we  have  theoi 
_^.2  ,^p 


■^6    The  Saints  Il%>erldfting  Txtjl. 

to  teach,  when  they  have  friany  years  lived  r.mon^ 
tliofe  that  have  taught  them  to  tin'nk  God's  ways  to 
b*  foolilh.  Doth  not  the  experience  of  all  the  world 
{hew  you  tl\e  power  of  educatton  ?  What  elfe  makes 
all  the  childien  of  the  Jiezus  to  be  ytiL-s  ?  And  all  the 
children  of  the  Turhs  to  be  Mahometans  ?  And  of 
chridians  to  be  in  profcfilou  chriliians  ?  And  of  each 
fe<^  oi  party  in  religion  to  follow  their  parents? 
Now  what  an  advantage  have  you  to  iile  all  this  for 
ihe  furtherance  of  their  happinefs  ! 

#2.  Conlider  z{ir>,  \\\zl  you  have  the  afPeftions  oF 
your  chiidien  more  tlian  anyothtriJ:  none  in  the 
world  hath  that  intcreft  in  their  hearts  as  you.  You 
will  receive  that  connfel  from  an  undoubted  friend, 
that  you  would  not  do  from  an  enemy,  or  a  fttanger. 
Now,  your  children  know  you  are  their  friends,  and 
advifc  th^^m  in  love ;  and  they  cannot  but  love  you 
again.  Nature  ha^h  alrnoft  neceflitated  tliem  to  love 
you.  O  therefore  improve  this  your  interefl  in  them 
for  their  good  ! 

3.  You  have  nifo  the  greateft  authoi  ity  over  tli^m. 
You  may  command  them,  and  they  da.  e. not  difobey 
yo'j,  or  elfc  it  is  your  own  fault,,  for  tl»e  molt  part,; 
*ur  you  can  make  them  obey  yon.  in  your  bnfii-.efi  ; 
}ea,  you  m?.y  corrcc^l  them  to  enforce  obedience. 
Your  raitfi-orii.)  alio  is  the  muii  unqueftionable  autho- 
rity in  the  world  '^i  he  authority  of  kint's  and  par- 
liaments h:r,e  b.^eu  difpiited,  but  youis  is  pafl  diipute. 
And  t'.vtrefwrc  if  you  ule  it- not  to  biing  them  to 
God,  you  are  without  excufe, 

4..  BcHdes,  their  dependarrce  is  en  you  for  their 
•inaiiitenance.  )  hty  know  you  ean  eiiher  give  them, 
®r  d'^-ny  them  what  you  have,  and  fo  punllh  and  re- 
'vard  theai  at  your  pleafure.  But  on  minifters  or 
T^ci^bbours  they  have  no  fuch  dependance. 


The  Saints  'EverlaJUng  Rejl,     247 

•5.  Moreover,  yon    that  are  pnrcnts  know  the  tcm- 

rper  and   inchnations  of  your  children,  \v!;at  vices  they 

are  mod    inchntd  to,  and   what  inllruftion  or  reproof 

they  mod  need  :  but  minlllers  cannot  fo   well  kiit>w 

-this. 

6.  Above  all,  you  are  ever  with  them,  and  fo  have 
o;)port unity,  as  you  know  their  faults,"  <o  to  apply 
the  rcmtdy.      Yon  may  be  ft  ill  talkinej  to  them  of  the 

•word  of  God,  and  mindiing  them  of  their  ftate  and 
duty,  and  may  follow  and  fct  home  every  word  of^ 
advice,  as  they  arc  in  the  houfe  with  you,  or  in itlie 
Jhop,  pr  \\\  the  field.  O  what  an  excellent  advantage 
is  this,  if  you  have  lit-avts  to  ufe  it!  Efptcially  you 
mothers,  remember  t'lls  ;  you  ave  more  with  your 
children  whi!-' they  arc  little  ones  than  their  fathers: 
be  you  therefore  fh'll*' teaciiin'r  them  as  f^on  as  e\er 
they  are  caprible  of  learning  :  you  cannot  do  God 
j'uch  cuiinent  fervice  yourfclves  ar.  men  ;  but  you  m.ay 
train  up  children  th?'.t  may  do  it,  and  tlien  you  will 
have  part  of  the  comfort  and  honour.  What  a  deal 
of  priins  are  you  at  with  the  b^ulies  of  your  children 
more  than  the  fathers?  And  what  do  you  fuffer  to 
bring  them  into  the  world;  and  will  not  yofi  be  at 
as  much  pains  for  the  fsvintr  of  their  fouls  ?  You  arc 
naturally  of  more  tender  afiedions  than  mm  ;  and  will 
it    not   nsove   you    to  think  that  your  children  Ihould 

•perKh  for  ever?  Therefore  I  befeech  yon.  for  the 
fake  of  the  children  of  your  bowels,  teach  them,  ad- 
moniHi  them,  watch,  over  them,  and  give  them  no 
Fell  till  you- have  brought  them  to  Chriil. 

And  thus  I  have  iTiewed  you  renfon  CHOugh  t© 
make  you  diligent  in  teachiog  your  children. 

Let  us  next  hear  what  is  ufually  objcifted  againil 
vthisby  ne^li^ent  mea. 


^^    The  Saints  EverlaJIlng  Ttejl. 

Objedl.  I.  We  do  not  fee  but  thofe  children  prcne 
as  bad  as  others,  that  are  taught  the  Icripturei,  and 
brought  up  fo  holily  ;  and  thofe  prove  as  hone  It  men, 
that  have  none  of  this  ado  with  them. 

Anfvv.  Who  art  thou,  O  man,  that  diTputeft  againft 

'God  I   Hatl\  God   charged  you  to   teach  your  chiliircn 

diligently  lis  'zvord,  fpeaL'ing  of  it  as  you  Jit  at  horns  ^  and 

^as  you  ivaik  abrcad,  as  yru  lie  down,  and  as  you  rife  up  ; 

and  dai  e  you  reply,  that  it  is  as  good  let  it  alone  ? 

Why,  this  is  to  fet  God   at  .defiance  ;  and  as  it  were 

tqi^fpit  in   his  face,  and  give  him  the  lie.      Will  you 

-  take  it  well  at  your  fervants,    if  when    you  command 

:  them  to   do   a  thing,   they  .fliould  return  you  an  an- 

fvv'cr,  that  they   do  not  fee  but  it  were  its   good  let  it 

alone  ?  Wretched  worm  !  dared  thou  thus  lift  up  thy 

head  againil  the  Lord  that  made  thee,  and  muft  judge 

thee  ?   Is  it  not  he  thet   coramandeth  thee  ?  If  thou 

btli^  ve  that  this  is  the  word  of  God,  how  dareft  thou 

fay,    it    is    as  good  dif-'bey  it  ?  This  is  devihfh  pride 

-indeed,     when    fuch    fottlfh,    finful   duil  fhall  think 

:  themfelves  wifer  tlun  the  living  God. 

2.  But  wUat  if  feme  prove  bad  that  are  well  brought 
-^.ip  ?  It  is  not   the  generality  of  them       Will  you  fay 

that  Noal/s  hmWy  was  no  better  than  the  drowned 
woild,  becaufe  there  was  one  Ham  in  it  ?  Nor  Da- 
wA-^'s,  becaufe  there  was  one  j^bfalom  ?  Nor  Chrifi% 
b-ecaufe  there  was  one  judas  P 

3.  But  what  if  it   were  fo  ?  Have  men  need  of  the 
"lefs    teaching,    or    the    more  ?  You  ha\e  more  wit  in 

tfce  matters  of  this  world.  You  will  not  fay,  I  fee 
f  many  labour  hard,  and  yet  are  poor,  and    therefore  it 

is  as  good  never  to  labour  at  all  ;  You  will  not  fay, 
,  many  that  go  to  fchool  learn  nothing,  and  therefore 
rtliey  may  learn  as  much  though  they  never  go  ;  or 
lanany  that  arc_,great..tradefaiea'.brcakj  and  therefore 


The  Saints  Evcrla/ting  Rcf}.    249 

his  as  good  never  to  trade  at  all  ;  or  many  plough 
End  fow,  and  liave  nothing  come  up,  and  therefore  ft, 
is  as  good  never  to  plough  more.  What  a  fool  were 
he  that  Ihould  reafon  thus  !  And  is  ncjt  he  a  thoufand 
'times  worfe,  that  (hall  rtafon  thus  for  ms-n's  fouls  ? 
Ptter  leafons  the  clean  contrary  way,  If  the  7-iJv£ous 
fcarcely  be  fi'ved,  <where  Jh<7U  }he,ur:ii-(lty  ani  fi^:r.er  ap' 
ptar,  I  Pet.  iv.  i3.  And  fo  doth  Chriih  Luke  xiii. 
24.  Strive  to  enter  in  at  the  Jl-  'Jit  gate  ;  for  m.my  [hill 
feek  to  enter,  and  not  be  able.  Otiicr  mon'.s  miicarri- 
ages  fliould  quicken  our  diligence,  and  not  inake  us 
-^cail  away  all.  What  (hould  you  think  of  th.it  ^ii|^n 
that  Hiould  look  over  into  his  neighbour's  garden, 
and  hecaufe  he  fees  here  and  there  a  nettle  or  weed 
among  much  better  (luff,  (hould  fay,  Why,  you  may 
fee  thefe  men  thai  bcftow  fo  much  pains  in  digging 
and  weeding,  have  weeds  in  their  garden  as  wtU  as  I 
tliat  do  nothing,  and  therefore  who  would  be  at  fo 
much  pains  ?  Jufl  thus  doth  the  mad  world  talk.  You 
may  fee  now  that  thofe  that  pray,  and  read,  and  fol- 
low fermon^^,  have  their  faults  as  well  as  we,  and 
have  wicked  perfbns  among  them  as  well  as  we:  yea, 
but  that  is  not  the  w  hole  garden,  as  yours  is  :  it  is 
"but  here  and  there  a  weed,  and  as  foon  as  they  fpy  it, 
liity  pluck  It  up,  andcaft  it  away. 

Obied.  2.  Some  further  obje^i,  it  is  the  work  of 
^iiiniilers  to  teach  both  us  and  our  children,  and  there- 
fore we  may  be  exculed. 

Anfwer  T.  It  is  firil  your  duty,  and  then  the  miui- 
fler's.  It  will  be  no  excufe  for  ycu,  becaufe  it  is  their 
work,  except  you  could  prove  it  were  only  theirs. 
Magillrates   mult  jrovern  both  you  and  your  children  : 


dotu  it  thercf)re  follow  thiit  you  nuui  i-ot  govern 
them  ?  It  belongs  to  the  fchoolmafter  to  corrcfttliem, 
and  doth  it  not  belong  alfo  to  you?  There  >^ni)l  go 
.nir.n7  hands  to  this  gieat  v.-ork  ;  as  to  the  building  of 


rzjo   TJje  Saints  Everlnjling  Refi. 

ail  houfe  there  -muft  be  many  workmen,  one  to  one 
pau,  and  another  to  another,  and  one  muft  not  leave 
their  part,  and  fay  it  btJongs  to  the  other  :  fo  it  is  here 
in  the  inllrudtiiig  of  your  children  ;  firft,  you  mull  do 
your  work,  and  then  the  minilter  mufl  do  his  :  you 
murt  be  doing  it  privately,  niglit  and  day  ;  the  mini- 
llcr  mull  do  it  .publicly  iud  privately,  as  oft  as  he 
can. 

2.  But  3s  the  cafe  now  fl^nds  with  minlAers,  they 
are  difablcd  from  doing  that  which  belongs  to  their 
office,  and  therefore  you  cannot  now  caft  your  work 
on  tlicm.      1  will  iiillance  but  in  two  tilings. 

F'lrj}^  It  belongs  to  their  oilice  to  govern  the 
church,  and  to  teach  with  authority  ;  and  great  and 
fmall  are  commauded  to  obey  them,  HeK  xiii.  7.  17. 
But  this  is  unknown,  and  hearers-look  on  themfelves 
as  frce-nr.cn,  that  may  obey  or  not,  at  their,  own  piea- 
fure.  People  think  we  have  authority  to  fpeak  to  them 
when  they  pleafe  to  hear,  an<i  no.more.  Nay,  {^^ 
of  the  godly  thernfelves  underftand  the  authority  that 
their  teachers  have  over  them  from  Chrid  :  they  know 
how  -to  .vahie  a  niiniller's  gins  hut  not  how  they  are 
bound  to  obey  him  becauie  of  his  oSce  :  not  that  they 
fliould  obey  him  in  evil,  nor  that  he  fhould  be  a  final 
decider  of  all  conlroverfies,  nor  fliould  exerciie  liis  au- 
thority in  things  of  no  moment  ;  but  as  a  fchoolmaller 
may  command  liis  fcholars  when  to  come  to  fchool, 
and  what  book  to  read,  and  wh.at  form  to  be  of,  and 
as  they  ought  to  abcy  hi:n,  and  learn  of  him,  and  not 
u-i  fet  their  wits  againd  his,  but  to  take  his  word,  and 
believe  him  as  their  teacher,  till  they  undeiftand  as 
well  as  he,  and  are  ready  to  leave  hie  fchool  ;  jud  fo 
are  the  people  bound  to  obey  and  learn  of  their  teach- 
ers Now  this  miniluerial  authority  is  unknown,  and 
fo  minifters  are  the  lefs  capable  of  d.:iing  their  work, 
.which  comes  to  pafs,   i.   From  the  pride  of  man's  na- 


The  Saints  Everlajling  Re/}.    ^^ 

fure,  efpeclauy  novice&>  which  makes  men  impatient 
of  the  reins  of  guidance  and  command  :  2.  From  the 
Popi(h  error  of  imph'cit  faith  ;  to  avoid  which  we  arc 
driven  as  far  into  the  contrary  extreme  :  and  3.  From 
the  modefly  of  minift^rs,  that  are  loth  ro  (hew  their 
eommilTion,  and  make  known  their  authority,  left 
they  fhould  be  thought  proud  :  as  if  a  pilot  fhould 
let  the  feamen  run  the  fhip  whither  they  will,  for  feav 
of  being  thought  proud  in  exerciiiiig  his  authority. 

Secondly,  A  far  greater  clog  than  this  doth  lie  upon 
minifters,  which  few  take  notice  of ;  and  that  is,  the 
fewnefs  of  miniftcrs,  and  the  greatnefs  of  congregati- 
ons. In  the  apoftles  lime  every  church  had  a  multi- 
tude of  minillers,  and  fo  it  mull  be  again,  or  we  Ihali 
never  come  near  that  primiti\*e  pattern  ;  and  then  they 
could  preach  publicly,  and  from  houfe  to  houfe  :  bat 
now,  when  there  is  but  one  or  two  minifters  to  many 
thoufand  fouls,  we  cannot  teach  them  one  by  one.  So 
that  you  fee,  you  have  little  reafon  to  call:  your  work 
on  the  minifters,  but  (hould  the  more  help  them  by 
your  diligence  in  your  ftverat  families,  bsjcaufe  they 
•are  already  fo  over-burdened. 

Objedl.  3.  But  fome  will  fay,  We  are  poor  men  and 
mud  labour  for  our  living,  and'  fo  mull  our  children  ; 
we  cannot  have  time  to  teach  thent  the  fciiptures,  ve 
have  fomevvhat  elfe  for  them  to  do'. 

Anfwer,  And  are  not  poor  men  fubje^l  to  God,  as 
well  as  rich  ?  And  are  they  not  chriftians  ?  And  muft 
they  not  give  account  of  their  ways?  And  have  not 
your  children  fouls  to  fave  or  lofe,  as  well  as  the  rich  ? 
Cannot  you  find  time  to  fpeak  to  them  as  they  are  at 
their  work  ?  Have  you  not  time  to  inftrudl  them  on 
the  Lord's  day  ?  You  can  find  time  to  calk  idly,  as 
poor  as  you  are  ;  and  can  you  find  no  time  to  talk  of 
the  way  to  life  ?  You  can  find  time  on  the  Lord's  d^-y 

for 


2^2    The  Sdints  E'verlajlivg  Rejf, 

for  your  children  to  play,  or  walk  or  talk  In  the 
ftreets,  but  no  time  to  mind  the  life  to  come.  Mc- 
thiiiks  you  fhould  rather  fay  to  your  chiUrcn,  I  have 
no  landb  to  leave  you  ;  you  have  no  Iiopc  of  great  mat- 
ters here;  be  fure  therefore  to  make  the  Lord  your 
portion,  that  you  may  be  happy  hereafter  ;  if  you 
could  get  riches,  they  would  fhoitly  leave  you,  but  the 
riches  of  grace  and  glory  will  be  everlailing.  Me- 
thihks  you  fhould  fay  as  Piio.,  Silver  and  gold  I  h  I've 
noney  but  furh  as  I  have..  I  give  you.  The  kinodom& 
of  the  world  cannot  bt  had  by  beggars,  but  the  king- 
dom of  heaven  may. 

O  what  a  terrible  reckoning  will  many  poor  men  have, 

vvhen  Chrift  (l/all  plead  his  eaufe,  and  judge  them!  May 
not  he  fay,  1  made  the  way  to  worldly  honours  inac« 
celTible  to  you,  that  you  might  not  look  after  it  for 
youvfelves  or  your  children  ;  I  .sit  heaven  1  fet  open,  that 
you  might  have  nothing  lo  difcourage  you  :  I  confined 
riches  and  honours  to  a  fev; :  but  my  blood  and  falva- 
tion  I  offered  to  all.  that  none  might  fay,  I  was  not 
invited  :  I  tendered  heaven  to  the  poor,  as  well  as  the 
rich  :  I  made  no  exception  ngalnft  the  meaneft  beggar; 
why  then  did  you  nov  come  yourfclves,  and  bring  your 
children,  and  teach  them  the  way  to  the  eternal  inhe- 
ritance ?  Do  you  fay  you  were  poor?  Why,  I  did  not 
fet  heaven  to  fale  for  money  ;  I  called  thofe  that  had 
nothing,  to  take  it  freely  ;  only  on  condition  they 
would  take  me  for  their  Saviour  and  Lord,  and  give 
up  themftlvcb  to  me  in  obedience  and  love. 

What  can  you  anfwer  Chrlfl,  when  he  fhall  thus  con- 
vince y.'U  ?  Is  it  not  enough  that  your  children  are  poor 
an  ;  mlierctble  here,  but  you  would  have  them  be  vvorfe 
for  everlafting  ?  If  your  children  were  beggars,  yet 
if  I  hey  were  Inch  beggars  as  Jya%irusyX.\\ty  may  be  con- 
veyed bv  angels  into  the  prefence  of  God.  But  be- 
lieve it,  as  God  will  fave  no  man  becaufe  he  is  a  gen- 
tleman. 


The  Saints  Ever  I  a/ling  Rc^fl.    2^^ 

lleman,  fo  will  he  fave  no  man  becaufe  he  Is  a  beg- 
gar. God  hath  fo  ordeied  it  in  his  providence,  that 
riches  are  common  occafions  of  men's  damnation,  and 
will  you  think  poverty  a  fnfficietit  excufe  r  The  hardell 
point  in  all  our  work  is  to  be  weaned  from  the  world, 
and  in  love  with  heaven  ;  and  li  you  will  not  be 
weaned  from  it,  that  have  nnthin;;^  in  it  but  labour  and 
forrow,  yon  have  no  exciife.  The  poor  cannot  have 
time,  and  the  rich  v/ill  not  have  time,  or  thty  are 
afliamed  tobe  fo  forvvaid  ;  the  youno- think  it  too  foon, 
and  the  old  too  late  ;  and  thus  moll  men  inllead  of  be- 
ing faved,  have  fomewhat  to  fay  agair.ll  then-  falva- 
tion  ;  and  when  Ciirilt  fendeth  to  invite  tlum,  they 
fay,  /  pray  ihee  have  me excujeJ.  O  unworthy  guelts 
of  fuch  a  blcffed  f<.^aft,  and  worthy  to  be  turned  into 
cverIallinQ;burnino[s  i 

Objedl.  ^.  But  fome  ^^  ill  obje£t,  we  have  been 
brought  up  u\  ignorance  ourfeives,  and  therefore  we 
are  unable  to  teach  our  cliiidien. 

Anfw.  Indeed  this  is  the  x'cry  fore  of  the  land  ; 
but  is  it  not  a  pity  that  men  fhould  fo  receive  their 
dedrudion  by  tradition  ?  Would  you  have  this  courfe 
to  go  on  thus  ilill  r  Your  parents  did  not  teach  you, 
and  therefore  you  cannot  teach  your  children,  and 
therefore  they  cannot  teach  theirs:  ty  this  courfe  the 
knowledge  of  God  would  be  banifhed  out  of  the 
v/orld,  and  never  be  recovered.  But  if  your  parents 
did  not  teach  you,  why  did  not  you  learn  when  you 
catne  to  age  ?  The  truth  is,  you  had  no  hearts  for  it; 
for  he  that  hath  not  kn;v,vledge,  cannot  valiic  it,  or 
love  it.  But  yet,  though  you  have  greatly  finned,  it 
is  not  too  late,  if  you  will  but  follow  my  faithful 
advice  in  thefe  four  points. 

I.  Get  your  hearts  deeply  fenfible  of  your  own  fin 

tnd  mifery,  becaufe  of  this   long   lime  which   you 

Y  have 


^j;4    The  Saints  Everlajling  ReJ}. 

liave  fptnt  in  igrorance  and  negle<5l.  Bethink  your- 
felvcs  when  you  are  alo.ic  ;  did  not  God  make  you, 
and  turiaiii  you  for  his  fcrvice  I  Should  not  he  have 
had  tlic  youth  and  flrength  of  your  fpirits  ?  Did  you 
live  all  this  time  at  the  door  ot  eternity  ?  What  if  you 
had  died  in  ignorance,  where  had  you  been  ?  What  a 
deal  of  time  have  you  fpent  to  h'ttle  purpofe  ?  Yoiur 
life  is  near  done,  and  your  work  all  undone.  You  are 
ready  to  die,  before  you  have  learnrd  to  live.  Should 
rot  God  have  had  a  btttcr  fhare  of  youi  lives,  and 
your  fouls  been  more  ref.rarded  and  provided  for  \  In 
the  midft  of  thefe  thou  hts  cafl  down  yoiirfelves  ia 
forrow,  as  at  the  feet  ofCtuiil  ;  bewail  your  folly,  and 
beg  pardon  and  recovering  grace. 

2.  Then  .think  as  fadly  hov/  you  have  wronged  your 
children.  If  an  unthrift  that  hath  fold  all  his  lands, 
will  lament  it  for  his  children's  fake,  as  well  as  his 
own,   much  more  fhould  you. 

3.  Next  fet  prefently  to  work,  and  learn  yourfelves. 
If  you  can  read,  do;  if  you  cannot,  ^ct  fome  that 
can  ;  and  be  much  among  thefe  that  willinftruA  youi 
be  not  afliaraed  to  be  fcen  among  learners,  but  be 
afliamed  that  you  had  not  learned  fooncr,  God  for- 
bid you  (hould  be  fo  mad,  as  to  fay,  I  am  nv)w  too  old 
to  learn  ;  except  you  be  too  old  tofeivt  God,  and  be 
faved,  how  can  you  be  too  old  to  learn  to  be  faved  ; 
W^hy  not  rather,  I  am  too  old  to  kiv.  the  devil  and  the 
world,  I  have  tried  them  too  lonp  to  trull  them  any- 
more. What  if  your  parents  had  Dot  taught  you  any- 
trade  to  live  by?  Would  not  you  have  fet  yourfelves 
to  learn,  when  you  had  come  to  a^e  ?  Remember  that 
you  have  fouls  to  care  for,  as  v  ell  as  your  children, 
and  therefore  firft  begin  with  yourfelves. 

4.  While  you  are  ^arnin;;  yoinTelves.  teach  your 
children  what  you 'do  knovvj  aad  what  you  canrot 

teach 


The  Sdkts  Everlafilng  Re/}.     "  55 


c 


teach  them  yourfclvts,  put  them  to  learn  of  ('.'-.crs 
that  can  :  peiTuade  them  into  the  company  of  .:.ifs 
who  will  be  ^lad  to  inRruci  them.  Have  you  no  neigh- 
bours that  will  be  helpful  to  ycu  herein  ?  O  do  not 
kctp  yourftlvos  Grange  to  them,  hat  go  among  t'l-  ;n, 
and  dcfiif  th-.-ir  help,  and  be  thankful  to  tl^enu  mat 
thc-y  will  entertain  you  in  their  company.  God  for- 
bid rhat  you  (hould  be  like  thofe  that  Chrift  Ipeaks  of 
Luke  y.\.  ^2.  that  luruid  nehhfr  tnkr  into  the  king  Iwr.  cf 
God  them  L'h>!Si  norfujfer  thojc  that  vjnuUi  to  ent^t ,  God 
forbid  you  (hould  be  fuch  barbarous  wretches,  as  to 
hicider  your  children  froai  bcin^  godly,  and  to  teach 
then^  to  be  wicked!  If  any  thing  that  walks  in  fielh 
may  be  called  a  devil,  I  think  it  is  a  parent  that  riin- 
dercth  his  children  from  falvation  :  nav,  I  will  lay 
more,  I  verily  think  that  in  this,  they  :.:e  far  \'  •  fe 
than  the  devil.  God  is  a  righteous  judge  and  will 
not  mnke  the  devil  hiniftlf  worfe  than  he  is  :  I  p  "^y 
you  be  patient  while  you  conlider  it,  and  then  j"dge 
yourfelves.  They  are  the  parents  of  their  children, 
and  fo  is  not  the  devil :  do  you  think  tlien  that  it  is  as 
great  a  fault  in  him  to  fcek  their  deftruftion,  a-^  in 
them  ?  Is  it  as  great  a  fault  for  the  wolf  to  kill  the 
Iambs,  as  for  their  Ovvn  dams  to  do  it  ?  Is  it  1  )  hor- 
rid a  fault  for  an  enemy  in  war  to  kill  a  child,  or  for 
a  bear  or  mad  diKi^  to  kill  it,  as  for  the  mother  tt  dafli 
its  brains  ag;.init  a  wall  I  You  know  it  is  not  ;  do 
you  tiiink  then,  that  it  is  fo  hateful  a  thing  in  Satan  to 
entice  your  children  to  fin  and  hell,  and  to  dil'-ouiage 
and  dilTnade  them  from  holmefs,  as  it  is  in  you  ?  You 
are  bound  to  love  them  by  nature,  more  than  Satan  is. 
O  then,  what  people  are  thofe  that  will  tcacn  their 
children,  inftead  of  holincfs,  to  curfe,  and  fwear.  and 
rail,  and  back-bite,  to  be  proud  and  revengeful,  to 
break  the  Lord's  day,  and  to  defpife  his  ways,  to  fpeak 
wantonly  and  filthily,  to  fcorn  at  holintfs,  and  glory 
in  nn  !  C  when  God  ihall  adc  thefe  children,  wliere 
Icrarncd  you  this  language  and  pvadlice  ?  and  they  fnall 

fay,.. 


256    The  Saints  EverlaJJhig  Rcjl, 

fay,  I  learned  ;t  of  my  father  or  mother  :  I  would  not 
be  in  the  cafe  of  thofe  paitnts  for  all  the  world  !  Alas, 
i«  it  a  work  th;'t  is  worth  the  teaching,  to  undothem- 
fclves  for-cvc:  f  Or  can  thiy  not  without  teaching  leara 
it  too  eafily  of  themfelves  ?  Do  you  need  to  teach  a 
ferpent  to  rting,  or  a  lion  to  be  fierce  ?  Do  you  ne.^d 
to  fow  weeds  in  your  garden  ?  Will  they  not  grow  of 
themfelves?  To  build  an  lioufe  requiies  fkill  and 
teaching,  but  a  lirtle  may  ferve  to  fet  a  town  on  fire  : 
to  heal  the  wounded  or  the  fick,  rtrqulreth  fl<ill  ;  but 
to  m.ike  a  man  fick,  or  to  kill  him,  reqaiieth  but  lit- 
tle. You  may  fooner  teach  your  children  to  fwear, 
than  to  pray  ;  and  to  mock  at  godlinefp,  than  to  be 
truly  godly.  If  thefe  parents  were  fviorn  enemies  to 
their  children,  and  fhould  Ihidy  feven  years  how  to  do 
them  the  greatell  mifchief,  they  could  not  pofiibly  find 
out  a  furer  way,  than  by  drawing  them  to  fin,  and 
withdrawing  them  from  God. 

I  fliall  therefore  conclude  with  this  earned  reqnefl: 
to  all  chrilb'an  parents  that  read  thefe  lines,  that  they 
would  have  coniprflion  on  the  fouls  of  their  poor  chil- 
dren, and  be  faithful  to  the  great  trull  God  nath  put 
on  them.  O  firs  !  If  you  cannot  do  what  you  would 
do  for  them,  yet  do  what  you  can.  Both  church  and 
date,  city  and  country,  groan  under  the  negle6^  of  this 
weighty  duty  ;  your  children  know  not  God,  nor  his 
laws  ;  but  take  his  name  In  vain,  and  flight  his  woribip: 
and  you  do  neitlier  infb  uft  them,  norcorreffc  them,  and 
therefore  God  doth  corre6^  both  them  and  you  You  are 
fo  tenderof  them,  thatGodisthelefstcnderbothof  them 
and  you.  Wondei  not  if  God  make  you  fmart  for  your, 
childrens  fins  ;  for  you  are  guilty  of  all  they  commit  by  j 
your  negle6l  of  doing  your  duty  to  reform  them  ;  evea 
as  he  that  maketh  a  man  drunk,  is  guilty  of  all  the  fin 
that  he  committeth  in  his  drunkennefs.  Will  you  re^ 
folve  therefore  to  fct  upon  tin's  duty,  and  negleft  it 
no  longer?  Remember  Eli:  your   children -are  l.'kej 

MoJiA 


The  Saints  Everlajling  Reft.     257 

^rfes  in  the  bafl<:et,  in  the  vvatcr^  ready  to  perlfliif 
they  have  not  help.  As  ever  you  would  not  be  charged 
before  God  for  murderers  of  their  fouls  ;  and  as  ever 
you  would  not  have  them  cry  out  againll  you  in  ever- 
lading  fire,  fee  that  you  teach  them  how  to  efcape 
it,  and  bring  them  up  in  holinefs,  and  the  fear  of  God. 

You  have  heard  that  the  God  of  heaven  doth  flatly 
command  it ;  I  charge  every  man  of  you  therefore,  up- 
on your  allegiance  to  him,  as  you  will  very  fhortly 
anfvver  the  contrary  at  your  peril,  that  you  will  nei- 
ther refufe  or  negle6l  this  mod  neceflary  work.  If 
you  are  not  willing  to  do  it,  now  you  know  it  to  be 
fo  plain  and  fo  great  a  duty,  you  are  flat  rebels,  and 
no  true  fubjedls  of  Chriil.  "  If  you  are  willing  to  do  it, 
but  know  not  how,  I  will  add  a  few  words  of  dired^ion 
to  help  you. 

I.  Teach  them  by  your  own  example,  as  well  as 
by  your  words.  Be  yourfelves  fuch  as  you  would 
have  them  be  :  practice  is  the  mv)rt  efFfClual  teaching 
of  children,  who  are  addicted  to  imitation,  efpecially 
of  their  parents.  Lead  them  the  way  to  prayer,  and 
reading,  and  other  duties.  Be  not  like  bafe  com- 
iDanders,  that,  will  put  on  their  foldlers,  but  not  go 
on  themfelves.  Can  you  expedl  your  children  fliould 
be  wifer  or  better  than  you  ?  Let  them  not  hear  thofe 
■words  out  of  your  mouths,  nor  fee  thofe  pradices  in 
your  lives,  which  you  reprove  in  them.  Who  fhould 
lead  the  way  in  holinefs,  but  the  father  and  mafter 
of  the  lamily  ?  It  is  a  fad  time  v.'hen  a  mailer  or  fa- 
ther  will  not  liinder  his  family  fiom  ferving  God^, 
but  will  give  them  leave  to  go  to  heaven  without  him. 

I  w'll  but  name    the  rcfl  of  your  dired  duty  for 

your  family,  i.  You  muft  help  to  inform  Jtlieir  un- 

dti  Handings.  2.  To   flore  their  memories.     5.   To 

r€ctiry  their  wills.     4.    i'o    quicken  their  aftedions. 

y  3  5.  To.- 


25S     The  Stunts  Ecerkifling  Reft. 


To   keep  iciukr  liieir  confciences.      6.   To  reftraif*- 

ir  tongue'-,  arid -help  them  to  (l^ill  in  gracious  fptcch; 


5- 
th 

and  to  letonn 

fation. 


and  watch  over   their  outward  convcr- 


Tothcfeends,  i.  "Be  fnre  to  keep  them,  at  leaO, 
fo  lon^  ai  rdiool,  till  thty  can  read  Engijh.  It  is  a 
thoufand  pities  a  reafonable  creature  fhould  look  up- 
on a  bibis,  as  upon  a  llone,  or  a  piece  of  wood.  2. 
Get  them  bibles  and  good  books,  and  fee  that  they 
read  them.      3.   Examine  them  often  what  thxy  learn. 

4.  Elpeciaily  fpend  the  Lord's  day  in  this  work, 
and  fee  that  they  fpend    it  ntit  in  fports  and    idlenefs. 

5.  Shew  theui  the  meaning  of  what  they  read  and 
learn.  6.  Acquaint  them  with,  and  keep  them  in 
company,  where  they  may  learn  good,  and  keep  them 
out  of  that  company  that  would  teach  them  evil.  7, 
Be  fure  to  caufe  them  to  learn  fome  catechifm,  con- 
taiuiug  the  chief  heads  of  divinity. 


The  heads  of  divinity 
firlt,   are  thcfe  ; 


h  you   mu.H:  ttach  them 


I.  That  there  is  one  only  God,  who  is  a  fpin't, 
luviijble,  inhnite,  et-frn;il,  almighty,  good,  merciful, 
true,  juft,  jjoly.  2.  That  this  God  is  one  in  three, 
rather.  Son,  and  Holy  Gholl.  3.  That  he  is  the 
Maker,  Maintainer,  and  Lord  of  all.  4.  That  man's 
happincfs  conhlteth  in  the  enjoying  of  this  God,  and 
not  in  flflhly  pleafuie,  profits,  or  honours.  5.  That 
Cod  made  the  firlt  man  upright  and  happy,  and  gave 
him  a  lav/  to  keep,  witli  cotidition,  that  if  he  kept 
ii  perfectly,  he  fhould  live  happy  for-ever  ;  but  if  he 
bioke  it,  he  Ihould  die.  6  That  man  broke  this 
1  ivv,  and  fo  forfeited  his  welfare,  and  became  guilty 
of  death  as  to  himfelF,  and  all  his  poUerity.  7.  That 
ChriR  the  Son  of  God  did  here  interpofe,  and  pre- 
vci4i  the  full  execution,  undertaking  to  dis  inftead  of 

man, 


The  Sci'nts  E%Lrlaj}ing  Rep.,      259 

man,  and  fo  rtdeem  him.  8.  Tiiat  Chriil  licrenpon 
did  make  with  man  a  better  covenant,  which  pro- 
claimed pardun  of  fin  to  all  that  did  but  repent,  and 
bch'eve,  and  obey  finccrely.  9  i  hat  he  revrrded  this 
covenant  and  mercy  to  the  world  by  df^reis  :  Fii ft, 
in  darker  promifes,  pvophofics,  ai-d  facrifices  ;  then 
in  many  ceremonious  tvpes  ;  and  then  by  more  plain 
foretelling  by  the  prophets.  10.  Th-^t  a  the  fulnefs 
of  time  Cbrill  came  and  took  our  ut!;:  e  into  union 
with  his  God-head,  being  conceived  by  the  Holy 
Glioft,  and  born  of  tlie  virgin  Mary,  II.  That 
while  he  was  on  earth,  he  lived  a  life  of  forrows,  was 
crowned  with  thorn.i,  and  bore  the  pains  that  our  fins 
deferv^d;  at  laftbr.'ing  cruciiied  to  deaths  and  buried, 
fo  fati;lied  tiie  judice  of  God,  12.  That  he  alfo 
pleached  to  the  Jciirsy  and  by  conilant  miracles  prov- 
ed the  truth  of  his  doCirines  before  thoufands  of  wit- 
neffcs  :  that  he  revealed  more  fully  his  new  covenant, 
'j  hat  whofoever  will  believe  in  him,  and  accept  him 
for  tlieir  Saviour  and  Lord,  fnall  be  pardoned  and 
faved,  and  have  a  far  greater  glory  than  they  lull  ; 
and  they  that  will  not,  fl^iall  lie  under  the  cuife  and 
guilt,  and  be  condemned  to  the  e\*rlailing  fire  of 
hell.  13.  That  he  rofe  again  from  tiie  dead,  having 
conquered  death,  and  took  puiTeflion  of  his  do- 
minion over  all,  and  fo  afcended  up  into  heaven, 
and  there  reigneth  in  glory.  14.  That  before  his  af- 
cenfion  he  gave  charge  to  his  apcltles  to  preach  the 
gofpel  to  all  nations  and  perfons,  and  to  offer  Chriif, 
and  mercy,  and  lite,  to  every  one  without  excepti- 
on, and  to  entreat  and  peifuade  them  to  receive  him, 
and  that  he  gave  them  authority  to  fend  forth  others 
on  the  fame  meifage,  and  to  baptize,  and  to  gather 
churches,  and  confirm,  and  ord^r  them,  and  fettle  a 
courfe  for  the  fuccefiion  of  miniftcrs  and  ordinances 
to  the  end  of  the  world,  i^.  That  he  alio  gcive  them 
power  to  work  frc(]uer;t  awA  evident  miiaclevS  for  the 
cunfiiaiaUQU    of  ihcir  dcdiriue  j  and  to  annex  their 


2-6  o    The  Sahits  Ever  la/ling  RlJI: 

wri'cings  to  the  reft  of  the  fcrlptures,  and  fo  to  finin> 
and  feal  them  up,  and  dehver  them  to  the  world  as. 
his  infalhble  woid,  w'nich  none  mull  dare  to  alter,  and. 
which  all  mull  obfL-rvc,  16.  That  for  all  his  free 
grace  is  offered  to  the  world,  yet  the  heart  is  by  na- 
ture {(>  dcfptrately  wicked,  that  no  man  will  believe 
andcnteitain  Chrill  Jinccrcly,  except  by  an  almighty 
power  hebechangtd  and  born  again;  and  therefore  doth 
Chrill  fend  forth  his  fpiiit  with  his  word,  which 
workcth  holinefs  in  our  hearts,  drawing  us  to  God 
and  the  Redeemer.  17.  Tiiat  the  means  by  which 
Chrill  workeih  and  pielcrveth  this  grace,  is  the  word 
read  and  pr.  ached,  together  with  ficqucnt,  fervent 
prayer,  meditatii)n,  faciaments,  and  gracious  confer- 
ence ;  and  it  is  much  furthered  alio  by  fpecial  provi- 
dences keeping  us  from  temptaiion  ;  fitting  occurren- 
C£s  to  our  advantage,  drawing  us  by  mercies,  and 
driving  us  by  afBi(::tions ;  and  therefore  it  nuift  he  the 
great  and  daily  car<*  of  every  chriltian  to  ufe  faithful- 
ly  all   tlie    ordinances,  and   improve  all  provId:*nccs. 

18.  That  though  the  new  law  or  covenant  be  an  ea- 
iy  y<jke,  and  there  is  nothing  grievous  in  Chrill's 
couunands,  yet  fo  bad  are  our  hearts,  and  fo  ftrong 
cur  temptations,  and  io  diligent  our  enemies,  that 
whoioevei  will  be  laved,  mult  drive,  and  watch,  and 
bellow  his  utmoft  care  and  pains,  and  deny  his  flefh, 
and  forfakeall  that  v.-ould  draw  hv.n  fiom  Chrill,  and 
herein  continue  to  ti-e  end,  and  overcome  :  and  l;C^ 
caufe  this  cannut  be  done  witliout  continual  fnpplles 
of  grace,  whereof  Chrill  is  the  only  fountain,  there- 
fore we  mud  live  in  continual  dependance  on  him  by. 
faith,  and    know    that    otir  iiji  is    hid  ixjuh  Goi  i^  him»  . 

19.  i  hat  Cinid  will  thus  by  his  word  and  fpirit  ga* 
thcr  him  a  chinch  out  of  all  the  world,  which  is  his 
bod) ,  and  fpoufe,  and  he  their  head  and  hun)and,  and 
will  be  tender  of  them  as  the  apple  of  his  eyes,  and 
preierve  them  fiom  danger,  and  coniiotjc  among  them 
liis  preXence  and  oidiuauccs ;  and  that  the  members  of 

thia. 


The  Saints  Ei>erlifting  Reft,    261 

tin's  church  mud  h've  together  in  entire  love  and  peace, 
ddi^litinj:  llieinfelves  in  God,  and  his  worlhip,  and 
the  tbre-thougl.ts  of  their  everlafting  happincfs  ;  for* 
bjaring  and  forgiving  ont-  another,  aad  relieving 
each  other  in  need  ;  and  all  men  ought  to  drive  to  be 
ofthib  focfety  :  yet  will  the  vifihlc  churches  be  ftill 
mixed  of  ^c/vid  and  bad  20  That  when  the  full 
nu-nber  of  t'lere  are  called  home,  Chrift  will  come 
down  from  h^-aven  ai^ain,  and  raifc  all  the  dead,  and 
fct  them  bcfv)re  liim  to  be  judged  ;  and  all  that  have 
loved  G :'d,  and  believed  in  Chrill,  and  been  willing 
tint  !k*  (hould  reign  over  th-m,  and  have  improved 
their  mercies  in  the  day  of  grace,  them  he  will  jufti- 
i'-^  and  fentence  them  to  inherent  everlafting  glory  ; 
and  tiiofe  that  were  not  fuch,  he  will  condemn  to 
€ver]allin_fT  fi,e  :  both  which  ftntences  ihall  be  then 
executed  accordingly. 

This  is  the  brief  fum  of  the  doctrine  which  you 
muft  teach  your  children.  Though  our  ordinary 
cre^d,  called  the  apoiUes  creed,  contain  all  the  ablo- 
lute  fundamentals  ;  yet  in  fv)me  It  is  fo  generally  and 
darkly  expreffed,  that  an  explication  is  neceiTary. 

Then  for  matter  of  practice,  teach  them  the  mean* 
ing  of  the  commaiidments,  efpecially  of  the  great 
commands  of  the  gofpel  ;  (hew  them  what  is  com- 
manded ana  forbidden,  in  the  firft  table  and  in  the 
fecond,  towaid  God  and  men,  in  regard  of  the  In- 
ward and  outward  man.  Ar.d  here  flievv  them,  1.  The 
authority  commanding,  that  Is,  the  Almighty  God, 
by  Chrift  the  Redeemer.  They  are  not  now  to  look 
at  the  command  as  coming  from  God  immediately, 
merely  as  God,  or  the  Creator  j  but  as  coming  from 
God,  by  Chrift  the  Mediator,  xvho  is  noiv  the  Lord 
of  all ;  fteinjr  the  Father  noiv  judgeth  no  man,  but  hath 
commht:  I  .  llj-uJ^msnt  to  the  Son.  2.  Shew  them  the 
Jei.ms  (ju  which  duty  is  rec^ulred,  ar.d  the  endj  of  it. 

3.  And 


a 62    The  Saints  Everlajling  i?£/?. ._ 

3.  And  the  nature  of  duties,  and  the  way  to  perform 
them  aright.  4.  And  the  right  order,  that  they  firft 
love  God,  and  then  theii-  \\t\g\ihom  \  firft  feek  the 
liiH^iGTi  f)f  Cod  and  his  nghtcp.uftiefs  5.  Shew  therri 
the  f  xccllcncies  and  dehghts  of  God's  fervice.  6.  And 
the  flat  neccjTuy  of  all  tliis.^  7.  Efpccially  labour  to 
get  all  to  their  hearts,  and  teach  them  not  only  to 
fpeak  the  words,  but  to  reduce  them  to  j)ra£licc. 

And  for  fm,  (hew  them  its  evil  and  danger,  and 
watch  over  tiiem  ,;t;air!il  it.  Efpecially,  i.  The  fins 
that  youth  is  connnonly  addi^icd  to.  2.  And  which 
th^ir  nature  and  conftituiion  moft  lead  them  to.  311 
And  which  thetinie  and  place  moll  Ilrongly  tempt  to, 
4  But  efpecii'lly  he  fure  to  kill  their  killing  fins, 
thofe  that  all  are  prone  to,  and  arc  of  all  moil  dead- 
ly ;  as  pride,  woildliuefs,  ignorance,  profciueuefs,  and 
ficfli-pL^afing* 

And  for  the  manner,  you  muft  do  all  this,  i.  Be- 
times, before  fin  g-t  rooting.  2.  Frequently,  3.  Sea- 
fonably.  4.  Scrioufly  and  diligently.  5.  Affedion- 
ately  and  tenderly.  6.  And  with  authoiity  :  compeK 
ling,  where  comm.andiug  will  not  ferve  ;  and  adding 
correilion,  wlieie  inllrudlion  is  fiulhated. 

And  thus  I  have  done  with  the  ufc  of  exhortation, 
to  do  our  utmofl  for  tlie  falvation  of  others.  The 
Tord  ^ive  men  compalTiouate  hearts,  tliat  it  may  bt 
pracliftd,  and  then  I  doubt  not  but  he  v.'ill  fucceed  it. 
to  the  increafe  of  his  church. 

End  nj  the  Second  Part* 


TKS 


[     263     ] 


(5^ '^ 

I*?  •<••<■■<••<••<■••<•.<■•■<■<••■<••<••<•••<••<••<■•<••<•■<•••*••>•>■>••>■•>•■•>•>■■>■■>••>•>•>•>■>■■>••>••>•  >-!5^ 


THE 


Saints  Everlafting  Reft, 


PART     in. 


Containing  a    Directory  for    the  getting  and  keeping 

the  Heart    in    Heaven,  by  the  diligent  Pradice  of 

that  excellent  duty  o/'Mf.ditation. 


CHAP.     L 

'Reproving  our  Expe^ations  of  Reft  on  Earth, 

DOTH  this  reft  remain  ?  How  great  then  is  our 
fin  and  folly  to  feek  and  expe(ft  it  here  !  Where 
fnall  we  find  the  chrillian  that  deferves  not  this  re- 
proof? Surely  we  may  all  cry  guilty  to  this.  We 
•know  not  how  to  enjoy  convenient  houfes.  goods, 
lands,  and  revenues,  but  we  feek  reft  in  thcfe  enjoy- 
ments. We  feldom,  I  fear,  have  fuch  fweet  and  cou- 
'tenting  thoughts  of  God  and  glory,  as  we  have  of  our 
tarthly  dcflights.  How  much  reft  do  we  fetk  in  build- 
ings, walks,  apparel,  eafcr,  recreation,  fleep,  pleafing 
meats  and  drinks,  company,  ht-allh  and  ftrength,  and 
long  life  ?  Nay,  we  can  fcarce  enjoy  the  neceflary 
means  that  God  hath  appointed  for  our  fpiritual 
good,  but  we  are  feeking  reft  in  them  Our  books, 
•cur  preachers,  fermons,  fiiends,  abilities  for  duty, 
•do  not  our  hearts  qui<-t  themfelves  In  them,  even 
more   than  in  God?  Indeed,    in  words  we  difclaim, 

and 


a64    The  Saints  Everlajlmg  Rejl. 

•And  God  hath  ufually  the  pre-eminence  in  our  tongues 
and  piofefiions  :  but  do  we  not  defire  thefe  more  vi- 
olently when  we  want  them,  than  we  do  the  Lord 
himfelf?  Do  we  not  cry  out  more  fenfibly,  O  my 
i"rieiid,  my  goods,  my  health  !  than,  O  my  God  ! 
Do  we  not  mils  miniflry  and  means  more  paffionately 
than  we  mifs  our  God  ?  Do  we  not  befiir  ourfelves 
more  to  obtain  and  enjoy  thefe,  than  we  do  to  reco- 
ver our  communion  with  God  ?  Do  we  not  delight 
more  in  the  pofTtiTion  of  thefe,  than  we  do  in  the  fru- 
ition of  God  himfelf:  Nay,  are  not  thofe  mercies 
and  duties  more  pleafant  to  us,  wherein  we  ftand  at 
the  greateil  diftance  from  God  r  We  can  read,  and 
fludy,  and  confer,  preach  and  hear,  day  after  day, 
without  much  wearinefs ;  becaufe  in  thefe  we  have  to 
do  with  inftrumcnts  and  creatures  :  but  in  fecret  pray- 
er and  converfing  with  God  immediately,  where  no 
creature  interpofeth,  how  dull,  how  heartlefs  and 
weary  are  we!  And  if  we  lofe  creatmes  or  means, 
doth  it  not  trouble  us  more  than  our  lofs  of  God  ? 
If  we  lofe  but  a  friend,  or  health,  all  the  town  will 
hear  of  it  :  but  we  can  m.ifs  our  God  and  fcarce  be- 
moan our  mifery.  1  hus  it  is  apparent,  we  make  the 
creature  our  rclt.  It  is  not  enough,  that  they  are  re- 
frtfhing  helps  in  our  way  to  heaven  ;  but  they  muft 
alfo  be  made  our  heaven  itfelf.  Reader,  I  would  as 
willingly  make  thee  fenfible  of  this  fin,  as  of  any  fin 
in  the  world  ;  for  the  Lord's  greatcft  quarrel  with  us 
is  in  this  point.  Therefore  I  molt  earneftly  bcfeech 
thee  to  preis  upon  thine  own  confcience  thcfc  follow- 
ing confiderations. 

I.  It  is  grofs  idolatry  to  make  any  creature  or 
means  our  reft;  :  to  fettle  the  foul  upon  it,  and  fay, 
now  1  am  v.  ell.  upon  tht  bare  enjoyment  of  the  crea- 
ture :  what  is  this,  but  to  make  it  our  God  ?  Cer- 
tainly, to  be  the  foul's  rell  i^  God's  own  prerogative. 
And  ad  it    is   palpable   idolatry  to  place  our  refl  in 

iich€S 


The  Saints  Everla/ling  Re,fl.    2 '^^5 

riches  and  honours;  fo  it  is  but  a  more  refined  idola- 
try to  take  up  our  refl:  in  excel'. -nt  means,  In  tiie 
church's  profperity,  and  in  its  reformation.  When 
we  would  h.v-'c  all  that  out  of  God,  which  is  to  be 
had  only  m  God  ;  what  is  this  but  to  run  .iway  fi):-;! 
him  to  the  creature,  and  in  our  hearts  to  dcv,  him? 
"When  we  fetch  more  of  our  comfort  from  the  thoughts 
of  profperity,  and  thofe  mercies  which  we  have  at  a 
diftance  from  God,  than  from  the  fore-thoughts  of 
our  eveilafling-  blefifednefs  in  him.  Are  we  chriOians 
in  judgment,  and  pagans  in  affe6lioM  ?  Do  we  give 
our  fenfes  leave  to  be  the  choofers  of  our  happinefs, 
while  reafon  and  faith  Hand  by  ?  O  how  ill  muft  our 
dear  Lord  needs  take  it,  when  we  give  him  caufe  to 
complain,  as  fometime  he  did  of  our  fellow-idolaters, 
Jir.  I  6.  that  we  have  been  loft  flieep,  and  have  for- 
gotten our  rcfting  place  !  When  we  give'nim  caufe  tr> 
fay,  my  pt'oplc  can  find  rtft  in  any  thing  rather  than 
in  me  !  They  can  find  delight  in  one  another,  but 
none  m  me  ;  they  can  rejoice  in  my  creatures  and  or- 
dinances, but  not  in  me  ;  yea,  in  their  vcrv  laboi.rs 
and  duty  they  feek  for  rel>,  but  not  in  rv.z  ;  they  had 
rather  be  any  where  than  be  with  me  :  are  theie  their 
gods  r  Have  thefe  delivered  and  redeemed  them  ? 
Will  thefe  be  better  to  them  than  I  have  been,  or  than 
I  would  be  ?  If  yourfelves  have  but  a  wife,  a  hufband, 
a  fon,  that  had  rather  be  any  where  tliaa  in  your 
company,  and  is  never  fo  meny  as  when  fmtheft  from 
you,  would  you  not  take  it  ill  yourfelves?  Why  fo 
mull  our  God  needs  do.  For  what  do  we  but  lay 
thefe  tilings  in  one  end  of  the  balance,  and  God  in 
the  other,  and  fooliHily  prefer  them  before  him  ?  As 
Efkanah  faid  to  Hannah^  Am  not  I  belter  to  thee  than 
ten  fons  ?  So  when  we  are  lon^^inor  after  creatures,  wc 
may  hear  God  fay,  am  not  1  better  than  all  The  crea- 
tures to  thee  I 

7,  2.  Confider 


c^65 


The  Saints  Ever  la  fling  Rejt. 


1.  Confider  how  thou  contradldeft  the  end  of  God 
:n  giving  thefe  things.  He  gave  them  to  help  thee 
to  him,  and  doft  thou  take  up  with  them  in  his 
lle-id  ?  He  gave  them  that  tfiey  might  be  refrefhmcnts 
in  thy  journey  j  and  vvouldil  thou  now  dwell  in  tliy 
iim,  and  go  no  further  ?  Thou  daft  not  only  contia- 
dift  God  herein,  but  lofeft  that  benefit  which  thoa 
mighteft  receive  by  them,  yea,  and  makeft  them  thy 
great  hurt  and  hinderance.  Surely,  it  may  be  faid  of 
all  our  comforts  and  all  ordinances,  and  the  blefTedeft 
enjoyments  in  the  church  on  earth,  as  God  faid  to 
the  Ifrazhteiy  of  his  ark,  Num.  x.  33  Thr  ark  of  the 
covitiant  ivcnt  before  ihtm^  to  fearch  out  for  them  a  rejl' 
ing-place.  So  do  all  God's  mercies  here.  They  are 
not  that  reft,  (as  John  profelTcth  he  was  not  the  Ciirift) 
but  they  are  voices  crying  in  this  wildernefs,  to  bid. 
us  prepare ;  for  the  kingdom  of  God,  our  true  reft, 
it  at  hand.  Therefore  to  reft  here,  were  to  tut  nail 
mercies  clean  contrary  to  their  own  ends,  and  oui  own 
advantages,  and  to  deftroy  ourfelves  with  that  which 
iliould  help  us. 

3.  Confider,  whether  it  be  not  the  moft  probable 
way  to  caufe  God,  either,  fiift,  to  deny  thofe  mer- 
cies which  we  defire  ;  or,  fecondly,  to  take  from  us 
thefe  whi'.'h  we  enjoy  ;  or,  thirdly,  to  imbitt^r  them, 
or  cr.rfc  them  to  us  f  Certainly,  God  is  no  where  fo 
jealous  as  here:  if  you  had  a  fervant  vvhom  your  wife 
loved  better  than  ftie  did  yourfelf,  would  you  not  take 
it  ill  of  fuch  a  wife,  and  lid  your  houfe  of  fuch  a  fer- 
vant ?  Why  {o,  if  the  Lord  fee  you  begin  to  fetiK-  in 
the  world,  and  fay,  here  I  will  reft,  no  wonder  if  he 
foon  in  his  jealoufy  unfettle  you.  U  he  love  you.  no 
Tvonder  if  he  take  that  fiom  you  wherewith  he  fees  you 
about  to"acftroy  yourfelvts. 

It  hath  been  longr  my  obfervation  of  irany,  that 


Vi'hca  thej  iiave  iittcinpicd  ^rest  works,  acd 


jnft 
iiai/hed 


The  Saints  Everlafiing  Reft,     267 

4ininiecl  tliem  ;  or  havr  aimed  at  great  things  In  thi: 
world,  and  have  ju(t  obtained  -hem  :  or  h.  ve  livtd 
in  nnich  trouble,  and  jufl  come  to  begin  with  lome 
content  to  look  upon  their  condition,  and  lefl  in  it, 
tliey  arc  near  to  dcatli  and  ruin.  When  a  man  is 
once  at  this  lan^uji^e,  Soul  talu-  thy  e  >fr  ;  the  next 
•news  ufuaMy  is,  77'-;?^  fonl,  this  nl^h:,  or  tins  m')nth, 
or  this  year,  /Z'j// /^y  foul  be  required  '^>J  thte,  and  ihm 
ivhcfe  Jhall  ihefe  dings  he?  O  what  houfe  is  tl..rre 
v/here  this  fool  dwelltih  not  ?  Let  you  and  I  confides*, 
whether  this  be  not  our  own  cafe.  Have  not  I  after 
fuch  an  unfertkd  life,  and  after  fo  mnny  longings 
and  prayers  for  thefe  days  !  Have  not  I  thought  of 
them  with  too  much  CDutent,  and  been  ready  tofijy, 
Soul^  take  thy  rejl  r  Have  not  I  comrorted  myfclF  ir.ore 
in  the  fore-thoughts  of  enjoying  theft,  than  of  com- 
ing to  heaven,  and  enjoying  God?  Wh.'t  wonler 
'then  if  God  cut  me  off,  when  1  am  juft  fitting- down 
-in  this  fuppofed  red  \  And  hatli  not  the  like  been 
your  condition  ?  Many  of  you  have  been  folcHtTs, 
(Ijiven  from  houfe  and  home,  endured  a  life  of  t  ;/U- 
ble  and  blood,  bi^en  deprived  of  miniiUy  and  means: 
did  you  not  reckon  up  all  the  comforts  you  fno^ld 
have  at  your. return;  and  glad  your  hearts  with  fuch 
thoughts,  more  than  with  the  thougliis  of  jour  com- 
ing to  heaven?  Why,  what  \X-onder  if  God  now  crofs 
you,  and  turn  fome  of  your  joy  into  fad nefs  ?  Many 
a  feryant  of  God  hath  been  deftroyed  fiom  the  earth, 
by  being  over  va  ued  and  over-loved.  I  pray  God 
you  may  take  warning  for  the  t«ime  to  come,  that  you 
rob  not  yomfclves  of  all  your  mercies.  I  am  per- 
fuaded  our  difcontents  and  murmurincrs  are  not  {o 
provoking  to  God,  nor  fo  dcftrudive  to  the  linner, 
as  our  too  fweet  enjoying,  and  reft  of  fpirit,  in  a 
pieafing  (late.  If  God  hath  crofled  any  of  you  in 
wife,  children,  goods,  friends,  either  by  taking  them 
from  you,  or  the  comfort  of  them  :  try  whether  this 
he  not  the  caufe  \  for  whcrefoever  yom*  defires  ftop, 

and 


268    The  Saints  Everla/liiig  Reji. 

anci  you  fay,  now  I  am  well  ;  that  condition  yon 
make  your  god,  and  engage  the  jealoiify  of  God 
againft  it.  "Whether  yon  be  friends  to  God  or  ene- 
mies, you  can  never  expeft  that  God  (hould  fuller 
you  quietly  to  enjoy  your  idols. 

4.  Confider,  if  God  fliould  fuffer  thee  thus  to  take 
up  thy  red  here,  it  were  one  of  the  greateft  curfes  that 
could  bcfal  thee  :  it  were  better  for  thee  if  thou  never 
hadft  a  day  of  eafe  in  the  world  ;  for  then  wearlnefs 
might  make  thee  fcek  after  true  reft.  But  if  he  fhould 
fufler  thee  to  fit  down  and  reft  here  where  were  thy 
reft  when  this  deceives  thee  ?  A  reftlefa  wretch  thou 
wouldft  be  through  all  eternity.  To  have  theii  good 
tliinsrs  on  the  earth,  is  tiie  lot  of  the  tnofl:  miferablc 
peiiihiiig  -finners.  Doth  it  become  chriftians  then  to 
expcd  fo  much  here?  Our  reft  is  our  heaven  ;  and 
where  we  take  our  reft,  there  we  make  our  heaven  : 
and  wouidii,  ihou  have  but  fuch  a  heaven  as  this  ?  It 
•w'xW  be  but  as  a  handful  of  watrrs  to  a  man  that  is 
drowning,  waich  will  help  to  dsftroy,  but  not  to 
fave  him, 

5.  Confider  thou  feekeft  reft  where  it  Is  not  to  be 
found,  and  fo  wilt  lofc  all  thy  labour.  I  think  I 
fhall  eafily  evince  this  by  thcfe  clear  demonflrations 
following  : 

Firjlf  Our  r^ft  is  only  in  the  full  obtaining  our  ulti- 
mate end  ;  but  that  i^  not  to  be  expe6^ed  In  this  life. 
Is  God  to  be  enjoyed  in  tic  beft  reformed  church 
here,  as  he  is  in  heaven  ?  You  confefs  he  is  not ;  how 
little  of  God,  (not  only;  the  multitude  of  the  blind 
world,  but  fometimes  the  faints  themfelves  enjoy  ! 
/,nd  how  poor  comforters  are  the  beft  ordinances  and 
enjoyments  without  God  !  Should  a  traveller  take  up 
hi*;  reft  in  tlie  way  ?  No,  becaufe  his  home  is  his  jour- 
ney's end.  When  you  have  all  that  creatures  and  means 

can 


The  Saints  Everlajiing  Rejl,     269 

can  afford,  have  you  that  you  fought  for  ?  Have  you 
that  yo^i  believe,  pray,  fiilFer  for  ?  I  think  you  dare 
not  fay  fo.  Why  then  do  we  once  dream  of  refting 
here  ?  We  are  like  little  children  (Irayed  from  home  ; 
and  God  is  now  fetching  us  home  ;  and  we  are  ready 
to  turn  into  any  houfe,  ilayand  play  with  everything 
in  our  way,  and  fit  down  on  every  giecn  bank,  and 
much  ado  there  is  to  get  us  home. 

Second/j,  As  we  have  not  yet  obtained  our  end,  fo 
are  wq  in  the  midd  of  labours  and  dangers  ;  and  is 
there  any  relling  here  ?  Wliat  painful  work  doth  lie 
upon  our  iiarids  !  Look  to  our  brethren,  to  our  fouls, 
to  God  ;  and  what  a  dv.al  of  work  in  refpect  of  each 
of  thcfj,  doth  lie  before  us  !  And  can  we  reft  in  our 
labours  ?  Indeed  we  may  cafe  ourfclves  fometimes  in 
our  troubles  ;  but  that  is  not  the  reft  we  are  now 
fpcakingof;  we  may  reft  on  earth,  as  the  ark  is  faid 
to  reft  in  the  midft  of  Jordan,  Jo/h,  iii.  13.  Oi  as 
the  angels  of  heaven  are  defired  to  turn  in,  and  reft 
them  on  earth,  Gen.  xviii.  4,  They  would  have  been 
loth  to  have  taken  up  their  dwcliing  there.  Should 
Jfratl  have  fettled  his  reft  in  the  wildcrnefs,  among' 
ferpents,  and  enemies,  and  wearinefs,  and  famine  ? 
Should  Noah  have  made  the  ark  liis  home,  and  been 
lath  to  come  forth  when  the  waters  were  fallen  ? 
Sliould  the  mariner  choofe  his  dwelling  on  the  fea, 
and  fettle  his  reil  in  the  micft  of  rocks,  and  funds,  and 
tempefts?  Though  he  may  adventure  through  all  thefe, 
for  a  commodity  of  worth  :  yetvl  think  he  takes  it 
not  for  his  left.  Should  a  foldicr  reft  in  the  midft  of 
fight,  when  lie  is  in  the  very  thickeft  of  his  enemies  ^ 
And  are  not  chriftians  fuch  travellers,  fuch  mariners^ 
fuch  foldiers  ?  Have  you  not  fears  within,  and  trou- 
bles without  ?  Are  wc  not  in  the  thickeft  of  contihual 
jdangers?  We  cannot  eat,  drink,  fleep,  labour,  pray, 
iiear  or  confer,  but  in  the  midft  of  fnares ;  and  lliali 
A^  fit  down  uud  reft  here  ?  O  chriftian,  follow  thy 
.Z.3  wod:;,^!. 


270     The  Saints  Everlajfing  Refl, 

work,  look  to  thy  danger,  hold  on  to  the  end  ;  win  ' 

the  fic'ld  and  come  off  the  ground,  before  yon  think 
of  fetth'ng  to  left.  1  read  that  Chrllt,  when  he  was  oa 
the  crofs,  comforted  the  converted  thief  with  tiiis. 
This  day  Jhult  thou  he  nviih  me  in  paradife :  but  if  he 
had  only  comforted  him  with  telling  him,  that  he 
fliould  rtft  there  on  the  crofs,  would  he  not  have  taken 
it  foi  a  dttifion  ?  Metiu'nks  it  fhould  be  ill  rclling  in- ■ 
themidilof  fickneffes  and  pains,  perfccution  and  ciif- 
ticdls;  one  would  think  it  fliould  be  no  contented 
dwelling  for  lambs  among  wolves.  I  fay  therefore  tto 
every  uP.e  that  thinkctl)  of  reft  on  earth,  Ar'ife  ye^  ds' 
part,  thii  is  not  your  rejL 

6.  Confult  with  experience,  both  other  men's  and 
your  own  ;  many  thoufands  have  made  ttial,  but  did 
ever  one  of  thefe  find  a  fufficitnt  reft  for  his  foul  on 
earth  ?  Delights  I  deny  not  but  they  have  found  ;  but 
reft  and  fat  isfaftion  they  never  found:  and  ftiall  we 
think  to  find  that  which  never  man  could  find  before 
us?  .^/^.//'•'s  kiwgdom  is  nothing  to  him,  except  he  had- 
elfo  Naboth'^^  vineyard,  and  did  that  fatisfy  hini  when 
}ie  hnd  obtaintd  it  ?  If  we  had  conquered  the  whole 
world,  we  fnouid  perhaps  do  as  Alexander^  fit  down 
and  weep,  becaufe  there  was  never  another  world  to 
conquer.  Go  afk  honour,  is  there  reft  here  ?  Why 
you  may  as  well  reft  on  the  top  of  the  tempeftuoiis 
-mountains,  or  in  Etna's  iiames.  Af]<  riches,  is  there 
reft  here  ?  Even  fuch  as  is  in  a  bed  of  thorns.  Enquire 
cf  worldly  pleafure  and  eafe,  can  they  give  you  any 
tidingsof  true  reft  ?  Even  fuch  as  the  fifti  in  fwallow- 
ing  the  bait  J  when  the  pleafureis  fweeteft,  death  is 
the  near^'ft.  Sucii  is  the  reft  that  all  worldly  pleafures 
aftord.  Go  to  learning,  to  the  pureft,  plentifulleft, 
powerfulleft  ordinances,  or  compafs  fea  and  land  to 
■find  out  the  moft  pei  fcft  church  ;  and  enquire  whether 
there  your  foul  may  reft  ?  You  might  haply  receive 
J^iom  thele  an  olive  branch  of  hope,  as  they  are  mean« 

to 


The  Saints  Ever  lofting  Reji,     271 

ta  your  reft,  and  have  relation  to  eternity  ;  but  in  re- 
gard of  any  fatisfaCtion  in  themfclves,  you  would  re- 
main as  rcftlefsas  ever  O  how  well  miglit  all  thefe 
anfvver  us,  as  jfucob  did  Rachel^  Am  I  injlead  of  God  ? 
So  may  the  hfgheft  perfeclions  on  earth  fay,  are  wc 
inftead  of  God  ?  Go  take  a  view  of  all  eftates  oi  men 
in  the  world,  and  fee  whether  any  of  them  liave  found 
this  reft.  Go  to  tlie  hufbandmun,  behold  his  endlefs 
labours,  his  continuni  care  and  toil,  and  wearinefs, 
and  you  will  eafiJy  fee,  that  there  is  no  reft  ;  go  to 
the  tradefman,  and  you  (hall  find  the  like  :  if  I  ftiould 
fend  you  lower,  you  would  judge  your  labour  loft  : 
go  to  the  painful  minifter,  and  there  you  will  yet 
more  eafily  be  fatisfied  ;  for  though  his  fpending,  end- 
lefs labours  are  exceeding  fweet,  yet  it  is  not  bccaufe 
they  are  his  reft,  but  in  reference  to  his  people's,  and 
his  own  eternal  reft  :  if  you  would  afccnd  to  magif- 
tracy,  and  enquire  at  the  throne,  you  would  find  there 
.is  no  condition  fo  reftlcfs.  Doubtlefs  neither  court, 
nor  country,  towns  or  cities,  fl^.ops  or  fields,  treafuries, 
libraries,  folitarinefs,  fociety,  ftudies,  or  pulpits,  can 
afford  any  f'jch  thing  as  this  j  eft.  If  you  could  en- 
quire of  the  dead  of  all  generations,  or  if  you  could 
aflv  the  living  through  all  domini-jii?,  they  would  all 
tell  you,  here  is  no  reft  j  and  all  mankind  may  fay, 
y///  our  days  are  forrowy  and  our  labour  is  ^i^itj)  and  our 
hearts  take  no  reJI,   Ecclef.  xi.  23. 

If  other  men's  experience  move  you  not,  do  but 
take  a  view  of  your  own  :  can  you  remember  the  ef- 
tate  that  did  fully  fatisfy  you  i  Or  if  you  could,  will 
it  prove  a  lafting  ftare  ?  For  my  own  part,  I  have  run 
through  feverai  ilatts  of  life,  and  though  I  never  had 
the  necefiities  which  might  occ?.fion  difconttnt,  yet 
did  I  never  find  a  fettkment  for  my  foul  ;  and  I  be- 
lieve we  may  all  fay  of  our  reft,  as  i^au!  of  our  hopes. 
If  It  nuere  in  this  life  onlyy  luc  ivtre  of  all  men  mojl  mi- 
ftrahic.     If  then  cither    fcripture.'  or  reafon,  or  the 

experience 


272     The  Saints  Everlajling  Rejl. 

c^rperience  of  ourfelves,  and  all  the  world  will  fatisfy 
us,  we  may  fee  there  is  no  refting  here.  And  yet 
how  guilty  are  the  generality  of  us  of  this  fin  !  How 
many  halts  and  ftops  do  we  make,  before  we  will 
make  the  Lord  our  reft  !  How  muft  God  even  drive 
us,  and  fire  us  out  of  every  condition,  left  we  ftiould 
fit  down  and  reft  there  !  If  he  give  us  profperity, 
riches,  or  honour,  we  do  in -our  hearts  dance  before 
them,  as  the  Jjiaelites  before  their  calf,  and  fay,  Thefs 
ere  thy  goos,  and  conclude  it  is  good  being  here.  If 
he  imbitter  all  thefc  to  us  by  croffes,  how  do  we  flrive 
to  have  the  crofs  removed,  and  are  reftlefs  till  our 
-condition  be  fvveetened  to  us,  that  we  may  fit  down 
again  and  reft  where  we  were  ?  If  the  I^ord,  feeing 
our  perverfenefs,  (hall  now  proceed  in  the  cure,  and 
take  the  creature  quite  away,  then  how  do  we  labour, 
and  care,  and  cry,  and  pray,  that  God  would  reftore 
it,  that  we  may  make  it  our  reft  again  !  /\rd  while 
we  are  deprived  of  its  enjoyment,  and  have  not  our 
former  idol,  yet  rather  than  come  to  God,  we  de- 
ligiit  ourfelves  in  our  hopes  of  recovering  our  form- 
er ftate  ;  and  as  long  as  there  is  tiie  leaft  likelihood  of 
obtaining  it,  we  make  thofe  very  hopes  our  reft  :  if 
the  poor  by  labouring  all  their  days,  have  but  hopea 
of  a  fuller  eftaie  when  they  are  old  (though  an  hun- 
ched to  one  they  die  before  they  have  obtained  it)  yet 
do  they  reft  themfclves  on  thofe  expedations.  Or  if 
God  doth  take  away  "both  prefent  enjeym.ents,  and 
all  hopes  of  recovering  them,  how  do  we  fearch  about 
from  creature  to  creature,  to  find  out  fomtthing  to 
fppply  th.e  room,  and  to  fettle  upon  infttad  thereof! 
Yea,  if  we  can  find  no  fupply,  but  are  fure  we  fliall 
live  in  poverty,  In  fickncfs,  in  difgrace,  while  we 
are  on  earth,  yet  will  we  rather  fettle  in  this  mifery* 
..and  make  a  rt-ft  of  a  wretched  being,  than  we  wiH 
:kaY,e  .all  and  come  to  God. 


A  rcaa 


ne  Saints  Everlafting  Re/i,    273 

A  man  would  think,  that  a  multitude  of  poor 
peopl^e,  who  beg  their  bread,  or  can  fcarce  with  their 
hardcil  labour  have  fultcnance  for  their  lives,  fhould 
■tafily  be  driven  from  relling  here,  and  willingly 
look  to  heaven  for  reft  ;  and  the  fick,  who  have  not 
a  day  of  eafe,  or  any  hope  of  recovery  left  them. 
But  O  uhe  curfcd  averfenefs  of  our  fouls  from  God  ! 
We  will  rather  account  our  mifcry  our  happinci's,  yea 
that  which  we  dally  groan  under  as  intc  lerable,  than 
we  will  take  up  our  happinefs  in  God.  If  any  place 
in  htU  were  tolerable,  the  foul  would  rather  tak  up 
its  reft  there,  than  come  to  God.  Yea,  when  he  is 
^'■'"o'"?^  us  over  to  him,  and  l.ath  convinced  us  of 
the  worth  of  his  ways  and  ftrvice,  the  laft  deceit  of 
all  is  here,  we  will  rather  fettle  upon  thofe  ways  that 
lead  to  him,  and  thofe  ordinances  th;;t  ^peak  of  bira, 
and  thofe  gifts  which  flow  from  him,  than  we  will 
come  clean  over  to  himfelf. 

Marvel  not  that  I  fpeak  fo  much  of  refting  in  thefe< 
beware  left  it  prove  thy  own  cafe  :  I  fuppofe  thou  art 
fo  convinced  of  the  vanity  of  riches  and  honour,  and 
pleafure,  that  thou  canft  more  eafily  difclaim  thefe  : 
but  for  thy  fpiritual  helps,  thou  lookeft  on  thefe  with 
lefs  fulpicion,  and  thinkeft  thou  canft  not  delight  in 
them  too  much,  efpecially  feeing  moft  of  the  world 
defpife  them,  or  delight  in  them  too  little.  But  doth 
not  the  increafe  of  t'lofe  helps  dull  thy  longings  after 
heaven  ?  1  know  the  means  of  grace  muft  be  loved 
and  valued ;  and  he  that  dclighteth  in  any  worldly- 
thing  more  than  in  them,  is  not  a  chriftian  :  but 
when  we  are  content  with  duty  iuftead  of  God,  and 
had  rather  be  at  a  fermon  than  in  heaven  ;  and  a  mem- 
ber of  a  church  here,  than  of  that  perFeCl  church,  and 
rejoice  in  ordinances  but  as  they  are  part  of  our  earthl/ 
^rofperity  :  this  is  a  fad  aiiilake. 


Sd 


274      ^^-^^  Saitits  EverlaJJwg  Reft. 

So  farrcjv^lce  In  ihe  creature  as  It  comes  from  GocI, 
or  leads  to  him,  or  brings  thee  fome  report  of  hi« 
love  :  fo  far  let  thy  foul  take  comfort  in  ordinances 
as  God  doth  accompany  them,  or  gives  himftlf  unto 
thy  loiil  b)  tiiem  :  ftill  remembering,  when  thou  hall 
even  what  thou  doft  mod  dtfire,  yet  this  is  not  hea- 
ven ;  yet  thcfe  are  but  t)ie  firft  fruits.  It  is  not  enough 
ihat  God  alloweth  us  all  the  comfort  of  travellers, 
and  accordingly  to  rejoice  in  all  his  mercies,  but  \vc 
mull  ftt  up  our  ftaff  as  if  we  were  at  home.  \Vbil€ 
we  are  at  prefent  in  the  body,  we  are  abfent  from  the 
Lord  ;  and  while  we  are  abfent  from  him,  we  ar-e 
abfent  from  our  reft.  If  God  were  as  willing  to  be 
abfent  from  us,  as  we  from  him,  and  if  he  were  as 
lot!)  to  be  our  reft,  as  we  are  loth  to  reft  In  him, 
we  fhould  be  left  to  an  eternal  reftlcfs  feparation.  In 
a  word,  as  you  are  fenfible  of  the  finfulnels  of  your 
earthly  difcontents,  fo  be  you  alfo  of  your  Irregular 
contents,  and  pray  God  to  pardon  them  mucli  more 
And  above  all  the  plagues  and  judgments  of  God  on 
this  fide  hell,  fee  that  you  watch  and  pray  againft 
this  [of  ftttling  any  wr.ere  fhort  of  heaven,  or  repof- 
ing  your  fouls  on  any  thing  below  God. 3  Or  el!e, 
wiien  the  bough  which  you  tread  on  breaks,  and  the^ 
things  whicli  you  reil  upon  deceive  you,  you  will 
perceive  your  labour  all  loll,  and  your  hightft  hopes 
will  make  you  alhanied.  Try  if  you  can  perfuade 
Satan  to  leave  temj)ting,  and  the  world  to  ceafe  trou- 
bling and  feducing^  if  you  can  bring  the  glory  of 
God  from  above,  or  remove  the  court  from  hcaveii  to 
earth,  and  fecure  the  continuance  of  this  through  tttr- 
nity,then  fettle  yourfelves  btlow,  and  fay,  Soul,  take 
thy  reft  here  j  but  till  then  admit  notluch  a  thought. 


CXiAP. 


The  Saints  Everlojlhig  Rejl,     275 


CHAP.    ir. 

-    Motives  to  Hcavenly-mindcdnefs, 

WE  have  now  by  the  guidance  of  the  word  of 
the  Lord,  and  by  the  afTiftance  of  his  Spirit, 
/hewed  you  the  nature  of  the  reft  of  the  faints  ;  and 
acquainted  you  with  fome  duties  in  relation  thereto  ; 
We  come  now  to  the  clofe  of  all,  to  prefs  you  to  the 
great  duty  which  I  chiefly  Intended  when  I  begun 
this  fubjedl. 

Is  there  a  reft,  and  fuch  a  reft  remaining  for  us  \ 
Wiiy  then  are  our  thoughts  no  more  upon  it  ?  Why 
are  not  our  hearts  continually  there  ?  Why  dwell  we 
not  there  in  conftant  contemplation  ?  Afl-:  your  hearts 
in  good  earneft,  What  is  the  caufe  of  this  negledt  ? 
Hath  the  eternal  God  provided  us  fuch  a  glory,  and 
promifed  to  take  us  up  to  dwell  v/ith  himfelf  ?  And 
is  not  this  worth  the  thinking  on  ?  Should  not  the 
ilrongeft  defircs  of  our  hearts  be  after  it ;  and  the  dai- 
ly delights  of  our  fouls  be  there  ?  Can  v/e  forget  and 
negledl  it  ?  What  is  the  matter  ?  Will  not  God  give 
us  leave  to  approach  this  light  ?  Or  will  he  not  fuffer 
cur  fouls  to  tafte  and  fee  it  ?  Then  what  mean  all  his 
earneft  invitations  ?  Why  doth  he  fo  condemn  our 
earthly-mindednefs,  and  command  us  to  fet  our  af- 
fecftions  above?  If  the  fore-thoughis  of  glory  were 
forbidden  fruits,  perhaps  we  fliould  be  fooner  drawn 
unto  them.  Sure  I  am,  wher>i:  God  hath  forbidden 
us  to  place  our  thoughts  and  our  delights,  thither  it 
is  eafy  enough  to  draw  them  If  he  fay,  love  not 
the  world,  nor  the  things  of  the  world,  we  doat  up- 
on it  neverthelefs.  How  unweariedly  can  we  tliink 
of  vanity,  and  dav  after  dav  employ  our  minds  ai)aut 
it  !  And  have  we  no  thoughts  of  thia  our  reft  ?  How 

freely 


2/6    The  Saints  Enjerlafling  ReJI, 

freely  and  how  frequently  can  we  think  of  our  plea- 
fiires,  our  friends,  our  labours,  our  flefli,  our  ftudies, 
our  news  ;  yea,  our  very  miferies,  our  wrongs,  our 
fufFerings,  and  our  fears  !  But  vvl  ete  is  the  cliiillian 
V'hofe  heart  is  on  this  reft  ?  What  la  the  matt<  r  ?  Why- 
are  we  not  tnkt-n  up  with  the  views  of  glory,  and 
our  fdiils  more  accuftomed  to  thefe  delightful  medita- 
tions ?  Are  we  fo  full  of  joy  that  we  need  no  nnore  ; 
or  is  tliere  no  matter  in  heaven  for  our  joyous  tljoughts; 
or  rather,  are  not  our  hearts  carnal  and  blockifh  ? 
Eaith  will  ttrd  to  earth.  Had  we  more  fpirit,  it 
would  be  otherwifc  with  us.  As  St.  Auguflm  cait  by 
Cicero*^  writings,  becaufe  they  contained  not  the  name 
cA  ye/us ;  fo  let  us  humble  and  caft  down  thefe  fen- 
fual  hearts,  that  have  in  them  no  more  of  Chriil  and 
glory.  As  we  {hould  not  own  our  duties  any  further 
than  fomewhat  of  Chriti  is  in  them,  fo  fhould  we  no 
further  own  our  hearts:  and  as  we  fhould  delight  in 
the  creatures  no  longer  than  they  have  reference  to 
Chiift  and  eternity,  fo  no  further  fhould  we  approve 
of  our  own  hearts  Why  did  Chrilt  ptonounce  his 
difciples  eyes  and  ears  bleffed,  b.*L  as  they  were  the 
dooTS  to  let  in  Chrid  by  his  works  and  words  into 
their  heart  ?  Blelfed  are  the  eyes  ihdt  fo  fee,  and  the 
ears  that  fo  hear,  that  the  heart  is  thereby  raifed  to- 
this  heavenly  frame.  Sirs,  fo  much  of  your  liearts  a» 
Is  empty  of  Chrift  and  heaven,  let  it  be  filled  with 
Ihame  and  foriow,  and  not  with  eafe. 

But  let  me  turn  my  reprehenfion  to  exhortation, 
that  you  would  turn  this  conviftion  into  reformation. 
And  I  have  the  more  hope,  becaufe  I  here  addrefs 
mylclf  to  men  of  confcience,  that  dare  not  wilfully 
difobey  God  ;  yea,  becaufe  to  men  whofe  portion  is 
there,  whofe  hopes  are  there,  and  who  have  forfaken 
all  that  tiity  may  enjoy  this  glory  ;  and  fliall  I  be  dif- 
coui-aged  from  perfuading  fuch  to  be  l.eavenly mind- 
ed I  U  you  will  not  hear  and  obey,  who  will  ?  Who- 
ever 


i 


The  Saints  Everla/llng  Rejl,     277 

ever  thou  art  therefore  that  rendeft  thefe  lines,  I  re- 
quire thee,  as  thou  tendereft  tliine  sllegiunce  to  Che 
God  of  heaven,  as  ever  thou  hoped  for  a  part  in  this 
gh)ry,  that  thou  prefently  takf  tb.y  heart  to  tLiHc  ; 
chide  it  for  its  wilful  l^.rangtnefs  to  God  ;  turn  thy 
thought  from  the  purfuit  of  vai.ity,  bend  tliy  foul  to 
ttudy  eternity  ;  habituate  thyfclf  to  fnch  contempla- 
tions, and  Ice  not  thofe  thoughts  be  fcldom  and  cur- 
fory,  but  fettle  upon  them  ;  dwell  here,  bathe  thv 
foul  in  heaven's  delights  ;  drench  thine  a£e6liops  in 
thefe  rivers  of  pleafure  ;  and  \i  thy  backward  fo'.:l 
begin  to  flag,  and  thy  thoughts  to  fiy  abroad,  call 
them  back,  hold  them  to  tlieir  work,  put  them  ou, 
bear  not  with  thtir  lazinefg  ;  and  when  thou  hafk 
once  tried  this  work,  and  followed  on  till  thou  hafi 
got  acquainted  with  it,  ar-d  kept  a  clofe  guard  upon 
thy  thoughts  till  they  are  accuftomed  to  obey,  thou 
wile  then  find  thyfelf  in  the  fuburbs  o^  heaven,  and 
as  it  were  in  a  new  world  ;  thou  wilt  then  find  thac 
there  is  fweetnefs  in  the  work  and  way  of  God,  and 
that  the  life  of  clniflianity  is  a  life  of  joy  :  thou  wilt 
meet  with  thofe  abundant  confolations  which  thou 
haft  prayed,  and  panted,  arid  groaned  after,  and 
which  fo  few  chriilians  obtain,  becaufe  th.ey  knou'^ 
not  the  way  to  them,  or  elfe  make  not  conj^cier.ce  of 
walking  in  it» 

You  fee  the  Vv'ork  row  before  you  ;  this,  th.js  is 
that  I  would  fain  perfunde  you  to  pVadife  :  let  me  be- 
fpeal^  your  confciences  in  the  name  of  Chrift,  and 
command  you  by  the  authority  I  have  received  from 
Chiift,  that  you  faithfjlly  fet  upon  this  duty,  and  fi)C 
your  eye  more  ftedfaftly  on  your  reft.  Do  not  v/on- 
der  that  1  perfuadc  you  (o  earneftly  :  though  indeed 
if  we  were  truly  reafonable  men,  it  would  be  a  won- 
der that  men  (houf3  need  fo  much  pcrfuafion  to  fa 
fweet  and  plain  a  duty  :  but  1  know  the  employment: 
is  high,  the  heart  is  earthly,  and  will  ftill  draw  back  ; 
A  a  the 


e/S     The  Saints  'EverJaJlin^  Rtft. 

the  temptations  and  luiidernnces  will  be  many  anil 
great,  and  therefore  I  fear  all  thefc  perfiiafions  are  lit- 
tle effiDugh  :  fay  not,  We  are  iiiiaBle  to  fet  our  own 
Jiearts  on  heaven,  this  mufl  be  the  work  of  Grd": 
.therefore  all  your  exhortation  Is  In  vain.  I  tell  you, 
thounh  God  be  tiie  chief  difpofer  of  yonr  hearts,  y^t 
next  under  him  you  have  the  grcattil  cominand  of 
ihem  yourfelvcs,  and  a  great  power  in  the  ordering 
of  your  own  thoughts,  and  deternfiining  your  owli 
wihs  ;  though  without  Chrift  you  can  do  nothing, 
yet  under  him  you  may  do  much,  and  mufl:  do  much, 
or  elfe  you  will  be  undone  through  your  neglcdt  :  do 
your  own  parts,  and  you  have  no  caufe  to  diilruft 
whether  Ghriil  will  do  his. 

1  will  here  lay  down  fome  confiderations,  whic^- 
'a  you  will  but  deliberately  weigh  with  an  Impartial 
judgment,  I  doubt  not  will  prove  tiTeftual  with  your 
hearts,  and  make  you  refolve  upon  this  excellent  duty. 

I.  Confider,  a  heart  fet  upon  heaven,  will  be  one 
of  the  mod  unquedionuble  evidences  of  a  true  woi^ 
of  faving  grace  upon  thy  foul.  Would  you  have  a 
f}gn  infallible,  not  from  me,  or  from  the  mouth  of 
any  man,  but  from  the  mouth  of  Jcfus  Chrill  himfeff, 
>vhich  all  the  enemies  of  the  ufe  of  maiks  can  lay  fio 
exceptions  againft.  ?  Why  here  Is  fuch  a  one,  Matt, 
vl,  2  1.  Where  your  treafure  is,  there  will  your  heart  be 
u^f'>.  Know  once  alTuredly  where  your  heart  Is,  arid 
you  may  eafily  know  that  your  treafure  Is  thei'e. 
God  IS  the  iaiuls  treafure  and  happinefs  :  heaven  Is 
the  place  where  they  fully  enjoy  him  ;  a  heart  there- 
fore fet  upon  heaven,  is  no  more  but  a  heart  fet  upon 
God,  defiring  this  full  enjoyment  :  and  furely  a 
heart  fet  upon  God  througli  Ch>iH,  Is  the  truefl  evi- 
dence of  faving  grace.  External  actions  are  the 
eafiefl  difcovered;  but  th;>fe  of  th*^  htait  are  the  fureft 
evid*;nces.     When  thy  Icuriiing  will  be'  no  good  pn/of - 

of 


Tv£  Saints  Evcrlojllng  Rcji,     279. 

vQJ.thy  gvace  ;  when  thy  knowltdg^,  thy  duties,  and 
thy  gifts  will  fail  thee,  when  arguments  from  thy 
tongue  and  thy  hand  may  be  confuted  :  then  wiil  tliis 
argument  from  the  bent  of  thy  heart  prove  thee  fin- 
cere.  Take  a  poor  chriflian  that  can  fcarce  fpeak 
-6'"j''/?'  about  religion,  that  hath  a  weak  underftand- 
ing,  a  failing  memory,  a  (tammering  tongue,  yet  his 
lieart  is  fet  on  God,  he  hath  chofen  him  for  his  por- 
tion, his  thoughts  arc  on  eternity,  his  dtfircs  there, 
his  dwelling  there  ;  he  cries  out,  O  that  I  were  there  ! 
lj,e  takes  that  day  for  a  time  of  impiifonment,  where- 
i;T  he  hath  not  taken  one  refrefning  view  of  ett-rnity.- 
I  had  rather  die  in  this  man's  condition,  than  in  the 
c.afe  of  him  that  hath  the  moft  eminent  gifts,  and  is 
moll  admired  for  parts  and  duty,  whofe  heart  is  not 
t^ken  up  with  God.  The  man  that  Chrid  will  iind 
out  at  the  lall  day,  and  condemn  for  want  of  a  wed- 
ding-garment, will  be  he  that  wants  this  fram.c  of 
heart.  The  queftion  will  not  then  be,  how  rauchi 
y,ou  have  known  or  talked  ?  but,  how  much  have  you 
loved,  and  where  was  your  heait  ?  Why  then,  as  you 
would  have  a  fure  tellimony  of  the  love  of  God,  and 
5  fure  proof  of  jour  title  to  glory,  labour  to  get  youi: 
hearts  above.  God  will  acknowledge  you  love  him, 
when  he  fees  your  hearts  are  fet  upon  him.  Get  bun 
your  hearts  once  truly  in  heaven,  and  without  all 
queftion  yourfelves  will  follow.  Jf  On  and  fatan  keep 
not  thence  your  affections,  they  will  never  be  able  tu 
keep  away  your  p^^rfons. 

2.  Confider,  a  heavenly  mind  is  a  joyful  mind: 
this  is  the  neareft  and  the  trueli  way  to  comfort  ;  and 
without  this  you  mud  needs  be  uncomfortable.  Can 
a  man  be  at  the  fire,  and  not  be  warm  ?  or  in  the 
funfhine,  and  not  have  light  ?  Can  your  heart  be  in 
heaven,  and  not  have  comfort  ?  What  could  make 
fuch  frozen  uncomfortable  chriftians,  but  living  fo  far 
aj  they  do  from  heaven  ?  And  what  makes  others  fo 

.  warm 


ciSo    The  Saints  EverJnfting  Rcjl. 


warm  in  comfortJ,  \-yX  tlieir  frequent  accefs  fo  vxt'i 
to  God  ?  When  tlie  fun  In  the  IpTing  drawi;  near  our 
part  ot  \\\>i  e?.vt!),  Ijow  do  rill  iLhgs  congratulate  ii8 
approEcli  !  The  enrtl.  looks  ^ireeii'and  cufteth  off  lier 
mournir-g  hhl-'t  ;  the  trees  /i;oot  fcnh  ;  the  plants 
^evivc;  the  biuls  fm^  j  the  face  of  all  tilings  fmiite 
upon  ns,  and  all  th?,  creatures  below  rcjoi-ce.  If  we 
v.ouIJ  but  keep  tliefc  hcp.M-c  above,  what  a  fpiing: 
would  be  within  us;  ard  nil  our  graces  be  frefli  and 
green  !   How  would  the  face  of  (mh-  fouls  be  changed. 


«nd  all  that   is    within    us 


rejoice 


Kow  ihoLid  we 


Korget  our  winter- foi  raws,  and  withdraw  our  fouls 
from  our  fad  utlretnerts!  How  early  fiiould  we  rife 
(as  thofe  birds  in  the  fr-riug)  to  fing  the  praife  of  our 
!.' rest  Creator  !  O  chi)ilir.:i !  get  above  ;  believe  it, 
that  region  is  warmer  than  this  below.  Thofe  that 
have  been  th;ve  have  found  it  fo,  and  thofe  that  have 
jjome  thence  have  told  us  f o, ;  and  I  doubt  not  but 
thou  had  fom?times  tried  it  thyftlf.  I  dare  appeal  to 
thy  own  experience  :  when  is  it  that  you  have  largell 
comfotts?  h  it  not  after  fiich  an  exercife  as  this, 
-^vhcn  thou  has  got  up  thy  heart,  and  converfed  with 
God,  and  talked  witb  the  inhabitants  of  the  higher 
world,  and  viewed  the  manfions  of  the  faints  and  ar> 
gels,  and  filled  thy  foul  with  the  fore  thoughts  of 
■glory  ?  If  thou  knoweft  by  experience  what  this  prac- 
tice is,  I  dare  fay  thou  knowed  what  fpiritual  joy  is* 
If  it  be  the  countenance  of  God  that  fills  us  with  joy, 
tl'.en  they  that  mod  behold  ir,  mud  be  fulled  of  thefe 
joys.  If  you  never  tried  this,  nor  lived  this  life  c-f 
heavenly  contemplation,  I  never  wonder  that  you 
'valk  uncomfortably,  and  know  not  what  the  joy  of 
ihv;  faints  means  :  can  you  have  comfoits  from  God, 
:ind  never  thin.k  of  him  ?  Can  lieaven  rejoice  you 
when  you  do  not  remember  it  l  Doth  any  thing  in 
l!  e  world  glad  you,  when  you  think  not  on  it? 
Whom  dionld  we  blaine  then,  that  we  are  fo  void  of 
■  o'lfjlatioPj  bLit  oi:r  own  ncgligrnt  unflvjlful  hearts? 

God 


'The  Saints  Ever lajTing  Rejl,    2 Si 

f'God  hath  provided  us  a  crown  of  ^lory,  and  pro- 
miTed  to  fet  it  fhortly  on  our  heads,  and  we  will  not 
To  much  as  think  of  it :  he  holdeth  it  out  to  us,  and 
biddeth  us  behold  and  rejoice  ;  and  we  will  not  To 
much  as  look  at  it.  What  a  perveife  pourfe  is  this, 
both  againft  God  and  our  own  joys  ! 

I  confcfs,  though  in  flefhiy  things  the  prefenting.a 
comforting  objc6l  is  fufficient  to  produce  an  anfwera- 
ble  delight,  yet  in  fpirituals  we  are  more  difablcd  : 
God  muft  give  the  joy  itfelf,  as  well  as  afford  us 
matter  for  joy  :  but  yet  withal,  it  mud  be  rem.em- 
bcred,  that  God  doth  work  upon  us  as  men,  and  in 
a  rational  way  doth  raife  our  comforts  :  he  enableth 
and  exciteth  ur>  to  mind,  thefe  delightful  objefls,  and 
from  thence  to  gather  cur  own  comforts  ;  therefore 
he  that  is  moft  fl^ilful  and  painful  in  this  gathering- 
art,  is  ufually  the  fullell  of  the  fpiritual  fweetncfs. 
It  is  by  believing  that. we  are  filled  with  ioy  and  peace  ; 
and  no  longer  than,  we  continue  our  believing.  It  is, 
in  hope  that  the  faints  rejoice,  yea,  in  this  hope  of 
the  glory  of" God  ;  and  no  longer  than  they  continue 
hoping.  And  here  let  me  warn  you  of  a  dangerous 
fnare,  an  opinion  which  will  rob  you  of  all  your  com- 
fort :  fome  think,  if  they  fliould  thus  fetch  in  their 
own  by  believing  and  honing,  and  work  it  out  of 
fcripture-promifts  by  their  own  thinking  and  ftudy- 
ing,  then  it  would  be  a  comfort  only  of  their  own 
hammering  out  (as  they  fay)  and  not  the  genuine  joy 
of  the  Holy  Ghoft.  A  defperate  miftake,  raifed  up- 
on a  ground  that  v.ould  overthrow  almofl  all  duty, 
as  well  as  this  ;  which  is  their  fetting  the  woikings 
of  God's  fpirit  and  their  own  fpirits  in  oppofition, 
•when  their  fpirits  muft  ftand  in  fubordination  to  God's : 
they  are  conjunft  caufes,  co-operating  to  the  produc- 
ing of  one  and  the  fame  effect.  God's  fpirit  work- 
eth  our  comforts  by  fetting  our  own  fpirits  at  work 
■pon  the  promifci=,  and  raifing  our  thoughts  to  the 
A  a  2  place 


£\ 


^-.32    The  Saints  Evcrhijilng  ReJL 

v'acc  of  our  coinfoits.  As  you  would  delight  a  co- 
vetous man  by  flicwing  liim  money,  or  a  voluptuous 
iran  with  fiePaly  delights  ;  fo  God  ufeth  to  delight 
Iv:?  people,  by  taking  them  as  it  were. by  the  hand, 
?ud  leading  them  into  heaven,  and  (l^.ewing  thfm 
liimfelf,  and  their  reft  with  him.  God  ufeth  not  to 
Cuft  in  our  joys  while  we  are  idle,  or  taken  up  with 
other  things.  It  is  true,  he  fomttimcs  doth  it  fud- 
dcnly,  bill  ufnally  in  the  aforefaid  o^der  :  and  his 
ibmtlimes  hidden,  extraordinary  cafling  of  comfort- 
ing tliought.s  in  our  hearts,  fhould  be  fo  far  from  hin- 
den'ng  cnctavours  in  a  meditating  way.  that  it  fhould 
.be  a  fingiilar  inotive  to  quicken  us  to  it  ;  oven  as  a 
tafte  given  r.s  of  Tome  cordial,  will  make  us  dehre  and 
feek  the  rcil.  God  ft-edeth  not  faints  as  birds  do 
iheir  younjj,  bringing  it  to  them,  and  putting  it  i« 
ihtir  mouth,  wjile  they  lie  dill  \\\  the  neft,  and  only 
gape  to  receive  it  :  but  as  he  givcth  to  man  the  fruits 
of  the  eanh,  the  increafc  of  cur  land  in  corn  and 
wine,  while  we  plough  and  fow,  and  wce<l,  and  w^- 
rcr,  Mud  dung,  aiid  drefsf  and  then  with  patience  ex- 
peft  his  bkfiii!g  ;  To  doth  he  give  the  joys  of  the  foul. 
Yet  I  deny  not,  tliat  if  any  fiiould  thiiik  fo  to  work 
<.->ut  his  own  comforts  by  meditation,  as  to  attempt 
the  work  in  hib  own  llrengch,  the  work  would  prove 
to  be  like  tlie  workman,  and  tlic  comfort  he  would 
j'nther  would  be  like  both  ;  even  mere  vanity  ;  even 
a3thc  hufbandman's  labour  without  the  km,  and  rain, 
and  blefling  of  God. 

So  then  you  may  eafily  fee,  that  clofe  meditation 
on  tl  c  matter  and  taufe  of  yonr  joy,  is  God's  way 
to  procure  ftjlid  joy.  For  my  part,  if  I  fiiould  find 
niy  joy  of  another  kind,  I  fliould  be  very  prone  to 
doubt  of  its  fmcerity.  If  I  find  a  great  deal  of  com- 
fort, and  know  not  how  it  came,  nor  upon  what  ra- 
tional ground  it  was  raifed,  nor  what  coniiderations 
feed  and. continue  it,  I  ilioi^ld  be  ready  to  qucftion 

M'bethcr 


The  Saints  E-jerlafiing  Rejl,     2S3 

-whether  this  be  from  God.  Our  love  to.  God  fhould 
not  be  like  that  of  fond  lover?'^  who  love  violently, 
but  they  know  not  v\hy.  I  think  a  chriflian's  joy 
fliould  be  rational  joy,  pjid  not  to  rejoice  and  know- 
not  why.  In  fome  extraordinary  cafe,  God  may  caft 
in  fiich  an  extraordinary  kind  of  joy  :  yet  it  is  not  his 
ufunl  way.  And  if  you  cbferve  tl»e  fpirit  of  mod  un- 
conifor table  chriftians,  you  will  find  the  reafon  to  be 
their  expectation  offuch  kind  of  joys;  and  according- 
ly arc  their  fpiiits  varioufly  tc^Tcd,  and  inconftantly 
tempered  :  when  they  meet  v/ith.  fuch  joys,  then  they 
lire  chceifnl  and  lifted  up  ;  but  b-caufe  thefe  are  ufii- 
ally  iliort-li^ed,  therefore  tiiey  are  llrai^^ht  as  low  as 
hell.  And  thus  they  are  toiTtd  ai  a  vcfild  at  fea,  up 
and  down,  but  dill  in  extremes;  whereas  alas,  Gcd 
is  moll:  conftant,  Ci:Tirt  the  fa'-ne,  heaven  the  fan:!?,- 
snd  the  promife  tiie  f?.nie  ;  and  if  we  took  the  right 
•  courfe  for  fetching  in  onr  comfort  from  thefe,  Aire' 
our  comforts  would  be  more  fettled  and  ccriiant,  thd'" 
not  always  tlie  fame.  Whoever  thou  art  therefore  that 
readell  thefe  lines,  I  entreat  thee  in  the  name  of  the 
L©rd,  and  a^  thou  valr.eft  the  life  of  conllant  joy,' 
and  that  good  confcience  which  is  a  continual  feafr, 
that  thou  wouldft  ferionfly  fet  upon  this  work,  and 
le?.rn  the  art  of  heavenly-nMndednefs,  and  thou  fiiah 
find  the  increafe  an  hundred  fold,  aad  the  beneftt 
;  abundantly  exc;.'ed  thy  labour. 

3.  Confider,  a  hearc  in  heaven  will  be  ?.  moil  ex- 
cellent prcfcrvative  againf:  temptations,  and  a  power- 
ful means  to  fave  the  confcience  from  the  v/ounds  of 
fm  :    God   can  prevent   our  finning,    though   wc  be 

.  carelefs,  and  fometimes  doth  ;  but  this  is  not  his  ufu- 
al  courfe  ;  nor  is  this  our  fafe(l  way  to  efcape.      When 

■the  mind  is  either  idle,  or  ill  employed,  the  dtrvll 
needs  not  a  greater  advantage  :  if  he  find  but   the 

-mind  empty,  there  is  room  for  any  thing  that  he  will 

i'.bring  in  ;  but.  wheahs  ficds  the  heart  in  heaven,  what 

.lope 


23-4    The  Saints  Everlajling  'Reft. 

}>opc  that  his  motions  fliould  take  ?  Let  him  entioc 
to  nny  forbidden  couiTe,  the  foul  will  return  Nehe- 
mia':>'s  anfwer,  /  am  d'/tn^  a  gretjt  tvoik^  and  cannot 
come,  Nch.  vi.  3.  Several- ways  will  this  preferve  us 
againll  temptation  Fltjfy  By  keeping  the  heart  em- 
ployed. Secondly^  By  dealing  the  undtrftanding,  and 
confirming  the  will.  Thirdly,  By  pre-poffefiing  the 
aiFeftions.  Fourthly^  By  keeping  us  in  the  way  of 
God's  blcfiing. 

rirfl,  By  keeping  the  heart  employed  :  when  we 
are  idle,  we  tempt  t'i»'  devil  to  tempt  us  ;  as  it  is  an. 
encouragement  to  a  thi^f,  to  fee  your  doors  open,  and 
nobody  within  ;  and  as  we  ufe  to  fay,  ♦*  Carelcfs  per- 
**  fons  make  thieves  ;"  fo  it  will  encourage  Satan,  to 
find  your  hearts  Idle  :  b'lt  when  the  heart  is  taken  up 
with  God,  it  cannot  have  time  to  hearken  to  tempta- 
tions ;  it  cannot  have  time  to  be  ludful  and  wanton, 
ambitious  or  worldly. 

If  you  were  but  bi;fied  In  your -lawful  callings,  you 
■would  not  be  fo  ready  to  hearken  to  temptations  : 
much  lefs  if  yen  were  buiied  above  with  God  :  will, 
■you  leave  your  plough  and  harveil  in  the  field  ?  Or 
leave  the  quenching  of  a  fire  in  your  houfes,  to  run 
hunting  of  butterflies?  Would  a  judge  rife,  when  he 
is  fitting  upon  life  and  death,  to  go  and  play  among 
the  boys  in  the  fheets?  No  more  will  a  chriilian, 
wien  he  is  bufy  with  God,  give  ear  to  the  alluring 
charms  of  Satan.  The  love  of  God  is  never  idle  ;  it 
worketh  great  things  where  It  truly  Is  ;  and  when  it  will 
not  work,  it  Is  not  love.  Therefore  being  ftill  thus 
working,  it  is. ftill  prefciving. 

Secondly,  A  heavenly  mind  is  freed  from  fin,  be- 
caule  it  is  of  cleared;  underilandlng  In  fplritual  mat- 
ters. A  man  that  is  much  in  converfing  above,  hath 
truer  and  livelier  apprehenfions  of  things  concerning 

GQd 


The  Saints  Tlvcrlafang  Re/},     285 

God  and  his  foul,  tijnn  any  reading-  or  learning  can 
beget  :  though  perhaps  lit;  inay  be  ignorant  in  divers 
controverlics,  and  matters  that  lefs  concern  falvation  : 
yet  ihofc  truths  which  niuft  eftablilh  his  foul,  and 
prefcrve  him  from  temptation,  he  knows  far  better 
than  the  greatell  fcholars  ;  he  hath  ^o  deep  an  inllght 
into  the  evil  of  fin,  the  vanity  of  the  creature,  the 
brnti(hnefs  o\  fenfual  delights,  that  temptations  have 
little  power  on  him  ;  for  tliefe  earthly  vanities  aie  (Sa- 
tan's baits,  whicli  v-ith  the  clear-fighted  have  loft  their 
force.  In 'vnin  {{\\\\.\\  Solfjmon)  the  net  is  fpre.ii  in  the 
fijit  of  any  bird.  And  in  vain  doth  Satan  lay  his 
fnares  to  entrap  the  foul  tliat  plainly  fees  tliem  Wlien 
the  heavenly  mind  is  above  with  God,  he  may  from 
thence  dil^ern  every  danger  that  lies  below  :  nay,  if 
he  did  not  difcover  the  fnare,  yet  vveie  he  likelier  far 
to  efcape  it  than  any  others.  A  net  or  bait  that  is 
laid  on  the  ground,  is  unlikely  to  catch  the  bird  that 
Hies  in  the  air;  while  fhe  keeps  above,  flie  is  out  of 
the  danger,  and  the  higher  the  fafer ;  fo  it  is  with  u&. 
Satan's  temptations  are  laid  on  the  earth,  earth  is  the 
place,  and  earth  is  tiie  ordinary  bait  :  how  (liaU  tliefe 
.enfnare  the  chrlftian,  who  hath  left  the  earth  and  walks 
with  God  ? 

Do  you  not  fenfibly  perceive,  that  when  your  hearts 
are  fcrloufly  Hxed  on  heaven,  you  become  wifer  than 
before  ?  .'ire  not  your  underftandings  more  folid  ;  and 
your  thoughts  more  fober  ?  Have  you  not  truer  appre- 
•henfions  of  things  than  you  had  ?  For  my  own  part, 
if  ever  I  be  wife,  it  is  when  I  have  been  much  above, 
and  feriouHy  ftucied  the  life  to  come  :  methinks  I  find 
my  underllanding  after  fuGh  cbntemplatiorrs,  as  much 
to  differ  from  what  is  was  before,  atJ  I  before  differed 
from  a  fool  or  an  idiot  :  whe>}  my  underi^anding  is 
weakened  and  befooled  with  common  eraployment, 
and  witli  converfmg  long  with  the  vanities  bcdow,  me- 
thi.nks  a, few  fober  thoughts  of  my  F.atliei's  houie,  and 

the 


2-b5     The  Saints  Evtrhijling  Reft. 

tUe  blcfTed  provlfion  of  liis  family  in  heaven,  dotU 
naake  me  (wiili  the  prodigal)  to  come  to  myfelf  again. 
Siirely,  wlien  a  chrilllan  withdraws  himfelf  fiom  his 
eaithly  thoughts,  and  begins  to  convcrfe  with  God 
in  heaven,  he  is  a  Nebuchadnezzar y  taken  from  the 
heads  of  the  held  to  the  throne,  aad  liis  underftandlnjr 
returneth  to  him  again.  O  when  a  chrilllan  hath  had 
hut  a  c,lin"!pfe  of  eternity,  and  then  looks  down  on  the 
world  again,  how  dotli  he  fay  to  his  laughter,  Thcu 
art  mii!  And  to  his  vain  mirth,  What  doji  thou? 
How  could  he  even  tear  liis  flefli,  and  tr.ke  revenge  on 
liimfelf  for  his  folly  !  How  vtiily  doth  he  think  that 
fheic  is  no  man  in  Bedlam  fo  mad,  as  wilful  finnera, 
2nd  Ir.zy  betrayers  of  their  own  fouls,  and  unworthy 
l^ighters  of  Chriil  and  glory  ! 

Do  you  not  think  (c'cept  men  are  (lark  devils)  that. 
it  would  be  a  hauler  matter  to  entice  a  man  to  fin,, 
Vihen  he  lies  a  dying,  than  it  vi'as   before  ?  If  the  de- 
vil, or  his  inflruratnts,  fnould  then   tell  him  of  a  cup. 
of  fack,  of  ir:erry  company,  or  of  a  llage-play,  do  you 
think  he  would  tlien  be  fo  taken  with  the  motion  ?  If, 
he  fhould  then  tell  hjm  of  riches,  or  honours,  or  fhew. 
him  cards,  or  dice,   or  a   whore,  would   the   tempta-, 
lion  (think  you;  be  as  ftrong  as  bcfoje?  Would  he 
not  anfwer,   Aks  I    what  is  all  this  to  me,  who  mud 
prtfently  appear  before  God,  and  give  account  of  all. 
my  life,  and  flraightways  be  in  another  world  ?    Why, 
if  the   apprehenfion   of  the  nearnefs  of  eternity   will, 
work  fiicb  (hange  effects  upon  the  ungodly,  and  make 
them  wifer  than  to  be  deceived  {o  cafily   as  they  were 
wont  to  be  m.  time  of  health  ;  what   effects  would  it. 
work  in  thee,  if  thou  couldft  always  dwell  in  the  views, 
of  God.    aiid  in  livtly  thoughts  of  thine  cverlafting 
fiate  ?  Surely,  a  believer,  if  he  improve  Itis  faith  .   may 
have  truer,  apprtlicnfions   of  the  life  to  come,   in  the 
t.ime  of  his  health.,  than  an  unbeliever  hath  at  the  hour 
of  liis  death. 

Thirdly,. 


nc  Saints  Everlajling  Re/i,     2Sy 

Thirdly,  a  heavenly  mind  is  fortifted  againft  temptfl' 
tions,  becaufe  the  aflfedlons  are  pre-pofTcffed  with  the 
deh'ghts  of  another  world.  When  the  foul  is  not  af- 
fef^ed  with  good,  though  the  underftandlng  never  ^o 
clearly  apprehend  the  truth,  it  is  eafy  for  vSatan  to  en- 
tice that  foul.  Mere  fpeculacions  (be  they  never  fo 
true)  which  fink  net  into  the  aiTt:(^ions,  are  poorpre- 
fervatives  againO:  temptations.  He  that  loves  mo^, 
and  not  he  that  knows  moll,  will  eaiiell  refill  the  mo- 
tions of  fin.  There  is  in  a  chriilian  a  kind  of  fpiriLn- 
al  tafte,  whereby  he  knows  thefe  things,  b^fides  his 
mere  reafoning  power  :  the  will  doth  as  fweetly  rdifli 
goodnefs,  as  the  undei  (landing  cToth  truth  ;  and  hete 
lies  much  of  a  chrifcian's  llrength.  If  you  fliould  dii- 
pute  with  a  iimple  man,  and  labour  to  perfuade  him 
that  fugar  is  not  fweet,  or  that  wormwood  is  not  bit- 
ter ;  perhaps  you  might  with  fophiflry  over-argne  his 
mere  reafon,  but  yet  you  could  not  perfuade  hirn  againll 
his  fenfe  ;  whereas  a  man  that  hath  loll  his  tafte,  is  eh- 
fier  deceived  for  all  his  reafon.  So  it  is  hero.  Wli^n 
thou  haft  had  a  frefh  delightful  talle  of  heaven,  thou 
wilt  not  be  fo  eafily  perfuaded  from  it :  you  cannot 
perfuade  a  very  child  to  part  with  his  apple,  while  tlk 
talte  of  its  fwcetnefs  is  yet  in  its  mouth. 

O  that  you  would  be  perfuaded  to  be  much  in  feed- 
ing on  the  hidden  manna,  and  to  be  frequently  taftiiK^ 
the  delights  of  heaven  !  It  is  true,  it  is  a  great  way  c^" 
from  our  fenfe,  birt  faith  can  reach  as  far  as  that. 
How  would  this  raife  thy  refolutions,  and  make  tlide 
laugh  at  the  fooleries  of  the  world,  and  fcorn  to  be 
cheated  with  fuch  childifh  toys  !  What  if  the  devil 
had  fet  upon  Paul  when  he  was  in  the  third  heaven  ? 
Could  he  then  have  ptrfu?Ttied  his  heart  to  the  pleafines, 
or  profits,  or  honours  of  the  world  ?  Though  the  If- 
raeiites  btlow  may  be  enticed  to  idolatry,  and  from 
eating  and  drinking  to  rife  up  to  play  ;  yet  Mo'f  m 
the  mouiU  v.-ilh  God  will  not  do  fu :  and  U  they  Had 


288    The  Saints  Ever  lofting  Refi. 

been  where  be  wss,  r.nd  l.ad  but  fcen  what  he  there- 
faw,  per  hyps  they  would  not  fo  eafily  have  finned.  O 
if  we  could  keep  our  fouls  continually  dtrlightcd  with 
the  fwcetucfs  above,  with  what  dildain  fhould  we  fpit 
out  the  bails  of  fiu  ! 

Fourthly,  Whilft  the  lieart  is  fet  on  heaven,  a  man 
is  undci  God's  protcdtion  ;  and  therefore  if  Satan 
then  alTault  hiin,  God  is   more  engaged  for  his   de* 

fence. 

Let  me  entreat  thee  then,  if  thou  be  a  man  that  is 
liaunted  with  temptation  (as  douhtlefs  tliou  art,  if 
thou  be  a  manjif  thou  perceive  thy  danger,  and  wouldft 
fain  efcape  it ;  ufe  much  this  poweiful  remedy,  keep 
clofe  with  God  by  a  heavenly  mind  ;  and  whtn  \\\q. 
temptation  comes,  go  ftraight  to  heaven,  and  turn  tliy 
thoughts  to  higher  things ;  thou  fliak  find  this  a  furer 
help  than  any  other.  Follow  your  bufinefa  above  with 
Chrilt.  and  keep  your  thoughts  to  their  heavenly  em- 
ployment, and  you  fooner  will  this  way  vanqullh  the 
temptation,  than  if  you  argued  oi  talked  it  out  with 
the  tempter. 

4.  Confider,  the  diligent  keeping  of  your  hearts  on 
heaven,  will  prefervc  tlie  vigour  of  all  your  graces, 
and  put  life  into  your  duties.  It  is  the  heavenly 
chrifcian,  that  is  the  lively  chriflian  :  it  is  our  (Irange- 
nefs  to  heaven  that  makes  us  fo  dull  :  it  is  the  cud  that 
quickens  all  the  means  ;  and  the  more  frequently  and 
clearly  this  end  is  beheld,  the  moie  vigorous  will  all 
our  motions  be.  How  doth  it  make  men  unweari- 
edly  labour,  and.fearlefbly  venture,  when  they  do  but 
think  of  the  gainful  prize  !  How  will  the  foldier  hazard 
his  life,  and  the  mariner  pafs  through  llorms  and 
waves  !  How  cheerfully  do  they  compafs  fea  and  land, 
when  they  think  of  an  uncertain  perifhing  treafure  ! 
O  what  hfc  then  would  it  put  into  a  chnlh'an's  en- 

dcavo  urs 


The  Saints  Everlajlhij  RefJ,     2S9 

,<IeavonrSj  If- lie  wouKl  frequently  tliink  of  his  everlafl- 
ing  treafure  !  We  run  fo  llowl.y,  and  ftrlve  fo  lazily, 
-becaufe  we  frvlittk-  mind  \.W^  prize.  Whea  a  chrKliah 
.hath. been  tailing. the  hidden  mxinna,  and" drinking;  of 
the  dreams  of  the  patadife  of  God,  what  life  doth 
.this  put  Into  him  !  How  fervent  will  his  fpirit  be  in 
> prayer,  when  he  confiders  that  he  prays  for  no  Icfs  than 
.heaven  ! 

Obu^rve  but  the  man  who  I3  much  in  heaven,  and 

.you  (hall  kt  he  is  not  like  others  ;  there  is  fomewhat 
of  that  which  he  hath  feen  above,  appcareth  in  all  his 
duty  and  cciiverfation  :  nay,  take  but  the  fame  man 
immediately  when  he  is  returned  from  thefe  views  of 

•blifs,  and  you  may  eafily  perceive  he  excels  himfclf. 
-If  lie  be  a  preacher,  how  lieavenly  arc  his  fermons."! 
What  clear  defcvipticns,  what  high  expreflions  hatli 
he  of  that  rell  !     If  he  be  a   private  chriftian,  what 

■  iicavenly  conference,  what  heavenly  prayers,  wjiat 
an  heavenly  carriage  hath  he  !  May  you  not  even  hear 
in  a  preacher's  fermons,  or  in  the  private  duties  of 
another,  v;hen  they  have  been  mod  above  ?  When  Mo- 

fes  had  been  with  God  in  the  mount,  it  made  his  face 
Ihine,  that  the  people  could  not  behold  him.  If  yoti 
would  but  fet  upon  this  employment,  even  fo  it  would 
be  with  you  :  men  would  fee  the  face  of  your  conver- 

:fatiou  Ihine,  and  fay,   barely  hs  h^thhitn  tuith  God! 

It  is  true,  a  heavenly  nature  goes  before  this  hea- 
venly employment  ;  but  yet  the  work  will  make  it 
more  heavenly  :  there  mull  be  life,  before  we  can  feed  ; 
but  our  life  is  continued  and  increaftd  by  feeding. 
Therefore,  let  me  inform  thee,  if  thou  lie  complain- 
ing of  deadnefs  and  dulnefs,  that  thou  canft  not  love 
Chriil,  nor  rejoice  in  his  love  ;  that  thou  haft  no  life  In 
, prayer,  nor  any  other  duty,  and  yet  never  triedft  this 
quickening  courfe,  or  at  lead  art  carelefs  and  incori- 
ilaut  in  it.j  thou  art  the  caufe  of  thy  own  complaints; 
B  b  th(3ti 


2()0     The  Saints  Everlajling  Reft, 

thou  dulled  thine  own  heart ;  thou  denied  thyfclf  that 
life  which  thou  talked  of.  Is  uot  tby  life  hid  tvitb 
Chriji  in  God?  Whither  muil  thou  go  but  to  Chrlft 
for  it  ?  And  whither  is  that,  but  to' heaven,  where 
he  is  ?  Thou  iL'iit  not  come  to  Chriji  that  thou  mayji  have 
life.  If  thou  wouldft  have  light  and  heat,  why  art 
thou  then  no  more  in  the  funfhine  ?  If  thou  wouldft 
have  more  of  that  grace  which  flows  from  Chrill,  why 
art  thou  no  more  with  Chrift  for  it  ?  Thy  ftrength  is 
in  heaven,  and  thy  life  in  heaven,  and  theie  thou  muft 
daily  fetch  it,  if  thou  wilt  have  it.  For  want  of  this  re- 
courfe  to  heaven,  thy  foul  is  as  a  candle  that  is  not 
lighted,  and  thy  duties  as  a  facrifice  which  hath  no  fire. 
X'etch  one  coal  daily  from  this  altar,  and  fee  if  thy  offer- 
ing will  not  burn.  Light  thy  candle  at  this  flame,  and 
feed  it  daily  with  oil  from  hence,  and  fee  if  it  will 
ijot  glovioufly  fiiine  :  keep  clofe  to  this  reviving  fire, 
and  fee  if  thy  afFcdions  v/illnot  be  warm.  Thou  be- 
wailed thy  want  of  love  to  God  (and  well  thou  mayd, 
for  it  is  a  heinous  crime,  a  killing  fin)  why»  lift  up 
thy  eye  of  faith  to  heaven,  behold  his  beauty,  con- 
template his  excellencies,  and  fee  whether  his  amia- 
blenefs  will  not  fire  thy  ad"e£lions,  and  his  goodnefs 
ravifn  thy  heart.  As  the  eye  doth  incenfe  the  fenfu- 
?.l  affections,  by  gfizing  on  alluring  objeds  ;  fo  doth 
the  eye  of  faith  in  meditation  inflame  our  afFeflions 
towards  our  Lord,  by  gazing  on  that  highed  beauty. 
"Whoever  thou  art,  that  art  a  dranger  to  this  employ- 
ment, be  thy  parts  and  profcfTion  ever  fo  great,  let 
me  tell  thee,  thou  fpended  thy  life  but  in  trifling  or 
idlenefs ;  thou  fcemed  to  live,  but  thou  art  dead  :  I 
znay  fay  of  thee,  as  Seneca  of  idle  Vacia^  Sciy  latere^ 
'vivere  nefcis  ;  th«u  knowed  how  to  lurk  in  idlenefs, 
hut  how  to  live  thou  knowcd  not.  And  as  the  fame 
Seneca  would  fay,  when  he  paiTed  by  that  fluggard's 
dwelling.  Hi  fifus  ejl  Facia  ;  fo  it  may  be  laid  of 
thee,  there  lies  fuch  a  one,  b'Jt  not  there  lives  fuch 
Ti.  one,  for  thou  fpcndc-ft  thy  days  liker  to  the  dead 

than 


The  Saints  EverlnJUng  Rej7,     291 

:Kan  the  living.  One  of  Draco\  laws  to  the  Athenians 
was,  That  he  who  was  convi<f^ed  of  idlenefs,  fhould 
be  put  to  death  :  thou  doft  execute  this  on  thy  own 
foul,  whilft  by  thy  idlenefs  thou  dertroyefl:  its  life. 

Thou  raayft  many  other  ways  exerclfe  thy  part^, 
but  this  is  tlie  way  to  exerclfe  thy  graces  :  tlicy  aii 
come  from  God  as  their  fountain,  and  lead  to  God 
as  their  end,  and  are  exercifed  on  God  as  their  chief 
object :  fo  that  God  is  their  all  in  all.  From  heave  a 
they  come,  and  to  heaven  they  will  dircdl  and  move 
thee.  And  as  exerclfe  maintaineth  appetite,  ftrengtli 
and  llvelinefs  to  the  body  ;  fo  doth  it  alfo  to  the  foul. 
Ufe  limbic  and  hais  livths^  is  the  known  proverb. 
And  ufe  grace  and  fpiritual  life  in  thefe  heavenly  ex- 
ercifes,  and  you  (hall  find  it  quickly  caufe  their  in- 
creafe.  The  exerclfe  of  your  mere  abilities  of  fpeecli 
will  not  much  advantage  your  graces  ;  but  the  exer- 
clfe of  thefe  heavenly  gifts,  will  inconceivably  help 
the  growth  of  both  :  for  as  the  moon  is  then  mofl  full 
and  glorious,  when  it  doth  moil  diredly  face  the  fun  ; 
fo  will  your  fouls  be  both  in  gifts  and  graces,  when 
you  moll  nearly  view  the  izcc  of  God.  This  will 
feed  your  tongue  with  matter,  and  make  you  abound 
and  overflow,  both  in  preaching,  praying,  and  con- 
fering.  Befides  the  nre  which  you  fetch  from  heaven 
for  your  facrifices,  is  no  falfe  or  llrange  fire.  As 
your  llvelinefs  will  be  much  more ;  fo  it  will  be  alfo 
more  fiacere. 

The  zeal  which  Is  kindled  by  your  meditations  on 
heaven,  is  raoft  like  to  prove  an  heavenly  zeal ;  and  the 
livellnefs  of  the  fpirit  which  you  fetch  from  the  face 
of  God,  mud  needs  be  the  divinekl  life.  Som.e  men's 
fervency  is  drawn  only  from  their  books,  and  fome 
from  llinging  affliflion,  and  fome  from  the  mouth  of 
a  moving  minifter,  and  fome  from  the  encourage- 
ment of  an  attentive  auditory  :  but  he  that  knows 

this 


292     The  Saints  Ez-erlajling  Refl. 

this  way  to  heaven,  and  derives  it  daily  from  the  pure 
fountain,  (hall  have  uis  foul  revived  with  the  wattr 
of  life,  and  e;  joy  that  quickening  which  is  the  faint's 
peculiar;  by  il, is  faith  thou  ma)  ft  offer  y^Ws  facri- 
lice,  more  excellent  than  that  of  common  men,  and 
by  it  obtain  witnefs  that  thou  arc  rigliteous,  God. 
tenifying  of  thy  gifts.  Heb  xi.  4,  When  others  are 
ready,  as  Baalh  priefts,  to  beat  themfclves,  and  cut 
their  fled),  becaufe  their  facrifices  will  not, burn  :  then 
if  tl.ou  canfl  get  bii:  the  fpiiit  of  Elizs,  and  in  the 
chariot  of  conteir.piation  fonr  aloft,  till  thou  ap- 
pronchc'fl  near  to  the  quickeniug  fpirit,  thy  foul  and" 
facrifice  will  i^lorioufiy  flame,  though  ilie  flcfti  and  tlie 
wodd  fhould  cad  upon  them  the  water  of  all  their  en- 
mity. Say  not  now,  how  (bail  we  get  fo  high?  Or 
how  can  niortuls  afcend  to  licaven  ?  Tor  faith  liatli 
wings,  and  meditation  is  its  chariot  ;  its  office  is  to 
make  abknt  things  as  prcfent."  Do  you  not  fee  how 
a  little  piece  of  glafs,  if  it  do  but  rightly  face  the 
fun,  will  fo  coiUrn<St  its  beams  and  heat,  as  to  fet  on 
fire  that  which  is  beliind  it,  wliich  witiiout  it  would' 
have  received  but  little  warmth  ?  Why  thy  faith  is  as, 
the  burning-glafs  to  thy  facrifice,  and  meditation  fets-. 
it  to  face  the  fun;  only  take  it  not  away  toofoon,. 
but  hold  it  there  a  while,  and  thy  foul  will  feel  the.- 
happy  efTeiSi. 

If  we  could  get  into  the  holy  of  holies,  and  bring- 
thence  the  name  and  image  of  God,  and  get  it  clof- 
td  up  in  our  hearts,  this,  would  enable  us  to  work 
wonders ;  every  duty  we  performed  would  be  a  won^ 
der  ;  and  they  that  heard  would  be  ready  to  fay,  Ne- 
ver man  fpake  as  this  man  fpeaketb.  The  fpirit  would 
poffefs  us,  as  thofc  flaming  tonguts,  and  rnake  us  eve- 
ry one  fpeak  (not  in  the  variety  of  the  confounded 
Janguages,  but)  in  the  primitive  pure  language  of 
Cana-'Tij  the  wonderful  works  of  God.  We  fliould' 
then  be  in  e\ery  duty,  whether  prayer,  exhortation, 

oc 


The  Saints  Everlajling  ReJ},    293 

or  brotherly  reproof,  as  Paul  was  at  Athens^  his  fpi- 
rit  was  (lirred  within  him  ;  and  (hould  be  ready  to 
fay,  as  Jeremiah  did,  Jer,  xx.  9.  Hh  ivord  was  in 
my  heart  as  a  burning  Jire  Jhut  vp  in  my  hones  ;  and  I 
was  iveary  <with  forbearing f  and  I  could  not Ji ay, 

Chriftian  teader,  art  thou  not  thinking  when  thou 
feed  a  h'vely  behever,  and  heareft  his  melting  pray- 
ers, and  lavilhing  difcourfe  ;  O  how  happy  a  man 
is  this  !  O  that  my  foul  were  in  his  ftnte  !  Wiiy,  I  here 
diredl  and  advife  thee  from  God.  Try  this  courfe, 
and  fet  tliy  foul  to  this  work,  and  thou  (halt  be  in  as 
good  a  cafe.  Wafh  thee  frequently  \\\  this  "Jordan, 
and  thy  dead  foul  fliall  revive,  and  thou  fhalt  know 
there  is  a  God  in  Ifrad  i  and  that  thou  mayll  live  a 
vigorous  and  joyous  life,  if  thou  neglcd  not  thine 
own  mercies.  If  tiiou  truly  value  this  ftrong  and  ac« 
tive  frame  of  fpirit,  flicw  it  by  thy  prefent  attempting 
this  heavenly  exercife.  Thou  halt  heard  the  way  to 
obtain  this  life  in  thy  foul,  and  in  thy  duties  ;  if  thou 
wilt  yet  ncgledi  it  blame  ihyfcif. 

But  alas,  the  multitude  of  profeflors  come  to  a 
minifter,  juft  as  Naaman  came  to  Eiias  ;  they  afi-:  us, 
how  fliall  I  overcome  a  hard  heart,  and  get  the  flrength 
and  life  of  grace  ?  But  they  expe<ft  that  fome  eafy' 
means  (liould  do  it;  and  think  we  fiiould  cuie  them 
with  the  very  anfwer  to  their  qucftion,  and  teach  them 
a  way  to  be  quickly  well  :  but  when  they  hear  of  a 
daily  trading  in  heaven,  and  conftaiit  meditation  on 
the  joys  above;  this  is  a  greater  tafic  than  they  ex- 
petted,  and  they  turn  their  backs-,  as  Naaman  to  Elias, 
or  the  young  man  on  Chrill.  Will  not  preaching,  and 
praying,  and  conference  ferve  (fay  they)  without  llus 
dwelling  Hill  in  heaven.?  I  entreat  thee,  reader,  be- 
ware of  this  folly  ;  fall  to  the  work  :  the  comfort  of 
fpiritual  health  will  countervail  alh  the  trouble.  It  is 
but  the  flefii  that  repines,  which  thou  knoweft  was 
B  b  2  never 


^ 


:2  94    Tl^^  Saints  Everlajlhig  Rfjl, 

never  a  friend  to  thy  foul.  If  G06.  had  fet  thee  or^ 
fome  grievous  work,  fliDuldft  thou  not  have  done  if 
for  the  h"fe  of  thy  foul  ?  How  much  more  when  he  doth  ■ 
Lilt  invite  thee  to  himfcif?. 

5.  Coafitkr,  the  frequent  belicvinp^.  viows  of  glory- 
nrc  t'lc  mofl  precious  corJial  in  all  afflictions,  i.  To 
iiiftain  our  fpirits,  and  make  our  fufferings  far  more 
'•afy.  2.  To  (lay  us  from  repining.  And  5.  To 
ifrengthen  our  rcfolution.*,  that  we  forfake  not  Clirid 
ibr  fear  of  trouble.  A  man  will  more  quiVlly  enduie 
the  lar.cirg  of  his  fores,  when  he  thinks  on  the  eafe 
that  will  follow.  What  then,  will  not  a  believer  en- 
dure, when  he  thinks  of  the  red  to  which  it  tendeth  ? 
What  if  the  way  be  never  fo  rough,  can  it  be  tedious 
if  it  lead  to  heaven  ?  O  fweet  ficknefs,  fweet  reproach- 
es, imprifonments,  or  death,  which  is  accompanied 
with  thefe  lalles  of  mir  future  reft!  Bdievc  it,  tliou 
wilt  fufi'cr  heavily,  thou  wilt  die  moft  fadly,  if  thou 
hall  not  at  hand  t-he  fortrtafies  of  thisieft.  Therefore 
lis  thou  Vv'ilt  then  be  ready  with  Dai'i.i  to  pray,  Be  ri'.i 
fir  from  me,  for  trouble  is  Pear:  fo  let  it  be  thy  chief 
care  not  to  be  far  from  God  and  heaven,  when  tiou- 
Me  i;i  near,  and  thou  wilt  Jir.d  him  a  v^ry  prrfnt  hilp  in 
irouhte. 

All  fuvfcringr,  are  nothinjr  to  usi  fo  far  as  wc  have 
the  fcrcfigiit  of' this  falvation.  No  bolts,  nor  bars, 
nor  diftance  of  place  can  fhut  out  thefe  fiipporting- 
joys,  becaufe  they  cannot  confine  our  faith  and 
thoughts,  although  they  may  confine  our  flefh.  Chrifl: 
and  faith  are  fp>ritual,  and  therefore  prifons  and  ba- 
nilhments  cannot  hinder  their  intercourfe.  EveuAvhen 
perkciuion  and  fear  hath  fhut  the  door,  Chrift  can 
come  in,  and  Hand  in  the  midft,  and  fay,  Piace  he 
vnto  you.  It  is  not  the  place  that  givet^  the  refl,  but' 
the  preft-nce  and  beliolding  of  Chi  ill  in  it.  If  the  Son 
^f  God  wiii  walk  with   us  in  it,    we  -may  walk  fafely 


I 


The  Saints  EvtrlajTing  Rejl.     29^ 

iii  the  midft  of  tliofe  flames,  which  (liall  devour  thofo 
that  call  us- in  :  why  then,  keep  thy  foul  above  vvitli 
Chrift  ;  be  as  h'ttle  ns  mayvbe  out  of  his  company,  and 
tlien  all  conditions  will  be- alike  tatb.ee.  Wliat  made 
Ivlofes  choofe  (\ff>,i3\on  fwiih  the  people  of  Go:!,  rather  than 
^tijoy  the  pkiifures  of  Jin  for  a  feafon  ?  He  had  refpecl  to 
thi  retrimpcnfe  of  reward.  Yea  our  Loa'd  himfelf  did 
fetch  his  encouragements  to  fiifferings  from  the  fore- 
fight 'of  his  glory  :  for  to  thh  end  he  both  died  and  rrfcy 
tind  revive  t,  thut.  he  riight  Is  Lord  both  of  the  dead  and 
hvin^,  Rom* -idf,  9.  £v:n  yifu^,  ihe  author  and  fni/h.^r 
ef  cur  fait  hi  for  the  Joy  that  ivas  fct  before  him,  endured 
the  crofs,  ^<^fPif'^S  ihe  Jhame^  and  is  ft  dozin  at  the  ri^'.i 
hand  cftht'tLrorucf  Cod,. 

6.  Confider,  It  is  lie  tlir.t  h.ntk  his  Cvonvcrfation  in 
heaven,  who  is  llie  protitabTe  ciiridian  to  all  about 
him:  with  iiim  you  may  take  fvvect  counftl,  and  go 
«p  to  the  celediai  houfe  of  God--  When  a  man  is. in 
a  llrange  country,,  far  from  liome,  how  glad  is  he  of 
the  company  of  one  of  his  ov.n  nation  !  How  dcl-ight- 
fiil  is  it  to  them  to  talk  of  their  country,  cf  their  ac- 
quaintance, and  tiie  aifaiis  of  their  home  !  Why,  with 
a  heavenly,  ciiritliantliou  mayfl  have  fuch  difcourfe  ; 
for  he  h.uh  been  there  in  the  fpirit,  and  can  tell  thee 
of  the  glory  and  refl  above.  l"o  difcourfv'  with  able 
men,  of  clear  underilondings,  about  the  diiiicuUies  of 
religion,  yea^  aljor.t  languages  and  fcitnccs,  is  both 
pleafatiL  and  profitii/le  ;,  but  nothing  to  this  heavenly 
difccurfc  of  a  belicvci-.  O  i)ovv.  refrefl-iing  are  his  e.Y- 
prciTux-.s!  Kow  his  words  pierce  the  heart!  How  they 
transi'orm  the  hearers  !  Hovj  doth  his  do^ine  drop  as  the 
rain,  and  hit  fpetch  d'-fiiL  as  the  dew,  as  the  f ma  It  rain 
vp„n  tht  tender  herb,  and  as  the  fu'j'vers  uton  the  ^rafs  ; 
ivh'ile  his  tongue  is  exprrjfng  the  naiv.e  of  the  l.crd,  and 
afcrib:ng  nreatnefs  to  his  God  !  This  is  the  man  who  is 
as  y.b,  whin  the  candle  of  God  did  fJ/me  upon  hi.  head, 
and  iidjiS  by  his  light  he  vjalked  through  darhnefs  :   ivhen 

the 


296    The  Saints  Everiajling  Rtft, 

the  fecret  of  God  was  upon  his  tabernacle^  and  'when  the 
jilwighty  tans  yet  <iukb  him  :  then  the  ear  that  heard  him , 
did  blefs  him  ;  and  the  eye  that  fatv  J.nm^  gave  ivitrefs  tu 
him,  job  xxix.  3,  4,  5,  11.  Happy  tlie  people  tiiat- 
have  an  heavenly  minlller  :  happy  the  children  and  fei- 
vants  that  have  an  heavenly  father  or  mafxer  ;  happy 
the  man  that  hath  heavenly  afTuciates  }  if  they  have 
but  hearts  to  know  their  happinefe.  This  is  the  com- 
panion, who  will  watch  over  thy  ways,  who  will 
llrengtben  thee  when  thou  art  weak  ;  who  will  cheer 
thee  when  thou  art  drooping,  and  comfort  tliec  witk 
the  fame  comforts,  wlierewith  he  hath  been  fo  often.- 
comported  himlVlf.  This  is  he  that  will  be  blowing 
the  fpark  of  thy  fpiritu?.llife,  and  always  drawing  thy 
foul  to  God,  and  v»ill  be  faying  to  thee,  as  the  Sama- 
ritan woman,  Com£  and  fee  one  that  hath  told  me  all  that 
ever  I did^  one  that  hath  raviflicd  my  heart  with  his 
beauty,  one  that  hath  loved  our  fouls  to  the  death  : 
is  not  this  tlie  Chri[\  I  Is  not  the  knowledge  of  God 
and  him  eternal  life  ?  I3  it  not  the  glory  of  the  faints 
to  fee  his  glory  ?  If  thou  travel  with  this  man  on  the 
way,  he  will  be  Qire6\ing  and  quickening  thee  in  thy 
jt^urney  to  heaven  :  if  thou  be  buyini^  or  felling,  or 
trading  with  him  in  the  woild,  he  will  be  counfelling. 
thee  to  lay  out  for  the  ineilimible  treafure  :  if  thou 
wrong  him,  he  can  pardon  thee,  remembering  that  • 
Ghrili  hath  not  only  pardoned  great  oilences  to  him, 
but  will  alfo  give  him  this  invaluable  portion.  This 
is  the  chvidian  of  the  right  itamp  ;  this  is  the  fervant 
that  is  like  his  Lord  ;  thefe  be  the  innocent  that  fave 
the  ifland,  and  all  about  them  are  the  better  where  they  ■ 
dwell.  1  fear  the  men  I  have  defcribed  are  very  rare  ; 
but  were  it  not  for  our  fharocful  negligence,  fuch  men- 
uiight  we  all  be  ! 


CHAP, 


Tfoe  Saints  Everlaftlng  Ryl.     297 

C  H  A  P.     III. 

Cpntainlng  fome   H'maerances    of  Heavenly^ 
mndednefs, 

AS  thou  valued  the  comforts  oi  a   heavenly  con- 
verfation,   I    here   charge    thee    from    God,  to 
bewa'-c  moli  carefully  of  thefe  impediments. 

I.  The  firft  Is,  the  Jiving  in  a  known  fin.  Obfeive 
this.  What  havoc  will  tliis  make  In  thv  foul  !.  O  ihc 
j\)ys  that  tills  hath  dellroyed  !  I'he  blcffod  communi- 
on with  God,  that  this  halh  interriipted  !  'i'he  ruins 
it  hath  made  amongft  men's  graces  !  The  duties  ihab 
it  hath  hindered  !  And  above  all  others,  it  is  an  ene- 
my to  this  great  duty. 

I  defirc  thee  in  the  fear  of  God,  ftay  here  a  h'ttle, 
gnd  fcarch  thy  heart.  Art  thou  one  that  hath  ufed 
violence  with  thy  confclcnce  ?  Art  thou  a  wilful  ne- 
gledler  of  known  duties,  either  public  or  private  ? 
Art  thou  a  (lave  to  thlr.c  appetite,  in  eating  or  drink- 
ing-, or  to  any  other  commanding  fenfe  ?  Art  thou  a 
feeker  of  thine  own  efleem,  and  a. man  that  mud 
needs  have  men's  good  opinion  ?  Art  thou  a  peev.ifti 
or  pifllonate  perfon,  ready  to  take  fire  at  every  word, 
©r  every  fuppofed  llight  ?  Art  thou  a  deceiver  of 
others  in  thy  dealing  ;.  or  one  that  hath  fet  thyfelf  to 
rife  in  the  w.»rld  ?  Not  to  fpeak  of  greater  fins,  which 
ail  take  notice  of.  If  this  be  thy  cafe,  1  dare  fay, 
heaven  and  thy  foul  are  very  great  {bangers  ;  1  dare 
fay,  thou  art  fcUom  with  God,  and  there  is  little 
hope  it  fhould  be  better,  as  long  as  thou  continuefl; 
in  thefe  tranfgrcflions :  thefe  beams  in  thine  eye  will 
not  iuffer  thee  to  look  to  heaven  ;  thefe  Vv-lll  be  a  clond 
between   thee  and   God.      How   H-iOuIdH;  thou    take 

comfort 


29S    ^^'^  Saints  Everlajling  Reji. 

comfort  from  heaven,  who  taketh  fo  much  pleafure 
in  the  lufts  of  the  fiefh  ?  Every  wilful  fin  will  be  to 
thy  comforts  as  water  to  five  ;  when  thou  thlnkeft  to  : 
quicken  them,  this  will  quench  tliem  ;  when  thy 
heart  begns  to  draw  near  to  God,  this  will  prefent- 
ly  fill  tliee  with  doubting.  Belides  it  doth  utterly  iii' 
dlfpofe  thee,  and  difab-e  thee  to  this  work  ;  when 
thou  ihouldJl  wind  up  thy  heart  to  heaven,  it  is  biaf- 
fcd  another  way  ;  it  is  entangled,  and  can  no  more 
afcend  in  divine  meditation,  than  the  bird  can  fly 
whofe  wing3  are  dipt,  or  thnt  is  taken  In  the  fnare. 
Sin  doth  cut  the  very  finews  of  the  fuyl  ;  therefore  I 
fay  of  t;iis  heavenly  life,  as  Mr.  Bolton  faith  of  pray- 
er, *'  Either  it  will  make  thee  leave  finning,  or  fin 
**  will  make  thee  leave  it/*  and  that  quickly  too  : 
for  thefe  cannot  continue  together.  If  heaven  and 
hell  can  meet  together,  then  mayft  thou  live  in  thy 
fm,  and  in  the  taltes  of  glory.  If  therefore  thou  find- 
thyfcif  guilty,  never  doubt  but  this  is  the  caufe  that 
eftvangeth  thee  from  heaven  ;  and  take  heed  lell  it 
keep  out  thee,  as  it  keeps  out  thy  heart.  Yea,  if 
thou  be  a  man  that  hitherto  haft  efcaped,  and  know- 
eft  no  reigning  fin  in  thy  foul,  yet  let  this  warning 
move  thee  to  prevention  and  ftir  up  a  dread  of  this 
danger  in  thy  fpirit,  efpeclally  refolve  to  keep  from 
the  occafions  of  fin,  and,  as  much  as  poEble,  out  of 
the  way  of  tcnipiaticns. 

2.  A  fecond  hinderance  carefully  to  be  avoided,  Is> 
an  earthly  mind  :  for  you  may  eafily  conceive,  that 
this  cannot  ftand  with  an  heavenly  mind.  God  and 
tnammon,  earth  and  heaven,  cannot  both  have  the 
deli£rht  of  thy  heart.  This  makes  thee  like  Anjelm^^ 
bird,  with  a  ftone  tied  to  the  foot,  which  as  oft  as 
fhe  took  flight,  did  pluck  her  to  the  u^arth  again.  If 
thou  be  a  man  that  haft  fancied  to  thyfelf,  fome  hap- 
pinefs  to  he  found  on  earth,  and  beginneft  lo  tafte  a 
Uveetaefa.  ill  gain,.,  and  to  afpu-e  after  an  higher  eftate, 

and 


The  Saints  Everlajling  Reft,    299 

and  art  driving  on  thy  defign  ;  believe  it,  thou  aft 
marching  with  thy  back  upon  Chrill,  and  art  poking 
apace  from  this  heavenly  life.  Hath  not  the  world 
that  from  thee,  which  God  hath  from  the  believer  ? 
When  he  is  blefllng  himfelf  in  God,  and  rejoicing  in 
hope  of  the  glory  to  come;  then  thou  art  bicfiing 
ithyfclf  in  thy  profperity. 

It  may  be  thou  holdeft  on  thy  courfe  of  duty,  and 
'prayeft  as  oft  as  thou  didll  before  ;  it  may  be  thou 
keepcft  in  with  good  minilttrs,  and  with  good  men, 
and  feemeft  as  forward  in  religion  as  ever  :  but  what 
IS  all  this  to  the  purpoffe  ?  Mock  not  thy  foul,  man  ; 
for  God  will  not  be  mecktd.  Thine  earthly  mii.d 
may  confift  with  thy  common  duties  ;  but  it  cannot 
>confilt  with  this  heavenly  duty.  I  need  not  tell  thee 
this,  if  thou  wouldft  not  be  a  traitor  to  thy  own 
foul  :  thou  knowell  thyfelf  how  feldom  and  cold, 
•iiow  curfory  and  ftrange  thy  thoughts  have  been  of 
ihe  joys  hereafter,  ever  fince  thou  didd  trade  fo  eagtT- 
ly  for  the  world, 

Methinks  I  even  pcixeive  thy  confcience  uir  now, 
and  tell  thee  plainly,  that  this  is  thy  cafe  :  hear  it, 
man!  O  hear  it  now;  lell  thou  hear  it  in  another 
manner  when  thou  wouldft  be  full  loth.  O  the  cuifed 
madnefs  of  many  that  feem  to  be  religious  ?  who 
thrull  themfelves  into  the  multitude  of  employments, 
and  think  they  can  never  have  bufinefs  encugh,  till 
ihey  are  fo  loaded  v/ith  labours,  and  clogged  with 
tares,  that  thfir  fouls  are  as  unfit  to  converfe  with 
God,  as  a  man  to  walk  with  a  mountain  on  his  back. 
And  when  all  is  done,  and  they  have  loll  tiiat  heaven 
they  might  have  hid  upon  earth,  they  take  up  a  few 
Totten  argnmi^ntG  to  prove  it  lawful,  and  then  they 
think  that  they  have  falved  all.  They  mifs  not  the 
pleafures  of  this  heavenly  life,    if  they  can  but  qiiiet 

their 


3O0     The  Saints  Eve^'JaJllng  Riifl, 

their  confcienc'js,    while  they  faden  upon  low^r  and 
baler  plealures ; 

For  thee,  O  cliriftian  !  who  hafl  tafted  of  tlicfe 
plcafures.  1  advile  thee,  as  thou  vahied  their  enjoy- 
ment, as  ever  thou  wouldll  tafte  of  them  any  more, 
take  heed  of  this  gulph  of  an  earthly  mind  :  For  if 
once  thou  conncll  to  this,  that  thou  nv'iit  he  r'tch^  thou 
fahtjl  into  temptation^  and  a  fnarey  and  into  divers  Jool- 
iJJj  ond  hurtful  lujis.  Keep  thefe  things  as  thy  upp&r 
garments  flill  loofe  about  thee,  that  thou  may  ft  lay 
them  by  whenever  there  is  caufe :  but  let  God  and 
p;£ory  be  next  tliy  heart,  yea,  as  the  very  blood  and 
fpirit  by  which  thou  livelb  :  (lill  remember  that  of 
the  Spirit,  Tbefriendjhip  of  the  luorld  is  enmity  <iviih 
God  :  ivhofoever  thtrefore  iiill  be  a  friend  of  the  toorld., 
is  the  ^nemy  of  God.  And,  love  not  the  ix;orld,  ncr  the 
things  in  the  ivorld :  if  any  man  love  the  ivorld,  the  love 
of  the  Father  is  not  in  him.  This  Is  plain  dealing-.; 
and  happy  he  that  faithfully  receives  it. 

3.  A  third  hinderance  of  which  I  mud  advlfe  thee  to 
bev/are,  is,  the  company  of  ungodly  and  feirfual 
men.  Not  that  I  would  diffuade  tliee  from  neceflary 
converfe,  or  from  doing  them  any  ofiice  of  love.; 
nor  would  I  have  thee  conclude  them  to  be  dogs  and 
fwine,  that  fo  thou  mayeft  evade  the  duty  of  reproof; 
nor  yet  to  judge  them  fuch  at  all,  before  thou  art 
^^ccrtain  they  are  fuch  indeed. 

Eut  it  is  the  unnecefTary  fociety  of  r.ngodly  men, 
and  familiarity  with  unprofitable  compaiiiyns,  though 
they  be  not  fb  apparently  ungodly,  that  I  diffuade 
you  from.  It  is  not  only  the  open  profane,  the 
{"wearer,  tlie  drunkard,  tliat  will  prove  hurtful  to  us; 
but  dead-hearted  formalifts,  or  perfons  merely  civil 
and  moral,  or  whofe  conference  is  empty,  unfavoury, 
and  barren,  may  much  divert  our  thought  from  heaven. 

As 


The  Saints  EverLiJIlng  Rjjl.     301 

As  mere  idlenefi,  and  forfeiting  God,  will  keep  a 
foul  as  certainly  froTi  heaven,  as  a  profane,  lictiitioas, 
jSeflily  life:  fo  alfo  will  ufelefs  company  as  fuitly 
keep  our  hearts  from  heaven,  as  the  company  of  ra<\\ 
more  diiTulute  and  prof.me.  Alas!  our  duliuls  and 
backvvardnefs  is  fuch,  that  wc  have  need  of  the  molt 
conllant  and  powerful  helps:  a  clod,  or  a  ftone  that 
lies  on  the  earth,  is  as  prone  to  arife  and  lly  in  the 
air,  as  our  hearts  are  to  move  towards  heaven.  You 
need  not  hold  them  from  flying  up  to  the  H-iles  ;  it  is 
fufficlent  that  you  do  not  help  them.  If  our  fpirits 
have  not  great  afliiiauce,  they  may  eafily  be  kept 
from  flying  aloft,  though  they  never  fhould  meet 
%vith  the  Icail  impediment.  O  think  of  th's  in  the 
choice  of  your  company  :  when  your  fpirits  need  no 
help  to  lift  them  up,  but  as  the  flames  you  a;e  al- 
ways mounting  upward,  and  carrying  with  you  all 
that  is  in  your  way,  then  you  may  indeed  be  Icf; 
caiefid  of  your  company  ;  but  till  then  be  cartful 
therein.  As  it  is  reported  of  a  lord  that  was  near  his 
death,  an.d  the  do^lor  that  prayed  with  him  read  over 
the  litany,  For  nil  tvonun  labouring  Tu'iih  chi'J,  for  aff 
ftck  perfonsy  and  young  cbildren^  &c.  From  Ji^hl.iinj 
and  tempejl ;  from  plague.,  pefliJencey  and  famine  ;  from 
buttle  ani  murdtr^  and  from  fud den  death.  Alas  !  faltli. 
he,  what  is  thir,  to  me,  who  mud  prefcntly  die?  So 
inayd  thou  fay  of  fuch  men's  conference;  alas!  what 
is  this  to  me,  w-ho  mull  fiiortly  be  in  reft  ?  What 
will  it  advantage  thee  to  a  life  with  God,  to  hear 
where  the  fare  is  fuch  a  day,  or  how  the  market  goes, 
or  what  v^'eather  it  is,  or  is  like  to  be,  or  when  the 
moon  changed,  or  what  news  is  (lirring  r  What  will 
it  conduce  to  the  raifing  thy  heart  God-ward,  to  hear 
tliat  this  is  an  able  mlnilter,  or  that  an  able  chirftlan, 
or  that  this  was  an  excellent  fermon,  or  that  is  an 
excellent  book  ;  to  hear  a  difcourfe  of  baptifms,  ce- 
remonies, the  Older  of  God's  decrees,  or  other  fucli 
'controverfies  of  great  difficultv,  and  kfs  importance  ? 
C  c     '  Yet 


302    The  Saints  Everhjling  Reji. 

Yet  this,  for  the  raoft  part,  is  the  fweeteft  diTcOnrfe 
that  you  are  likely  to  have  of  a  formal  dead- hearted 
profeffor.  If  tliou  hadft  jiewly  been  warming  tliy 
heart  with  the  joys  abcve^  would  not  this  difcouife 
<juickly  ficezc  it  again  ?  1  appeal  to  the  judgment  of 
any  man  that  Jiath  tried  it,  and  maketh  obfcrvations 
on  the  frame  of  his  fpim. 

4.  A  fourth  hindrance  to  heavenly  converfation, 
is,  difpules  about  lefFer  truths,  and  efpeclally  when  a 
jiian's  religion  lies  only  m  his  opinions;  a  fure  llgn 
of  an  unfandlified  foul.  If  fad  examples  be  regarded, 
I  need  fay  the  lefs  upon  this.  It  is  legibly  written 
in  the  faces  of  thoufands ;  it  is  vlfible  in  the  com- 
plexion of  our  deceafed  nation.  They  are  men  leall 
acquainted  with  a  heavenly  life,  who  are  the  violent 
difputers  about  the  circumftantials  of  religion :  he 
whofe  religion  is  all  in  his  opinions,  will  be  mod 
frequently  and  zealoufly  fpeaking  his  opinions  :  and 
be  v.'hofe  religion  lies  in  the  knowledge  and  love 
of  God  in  Chrill:,  of  that  time  when  he  fhall  enjoy 
God  and  Chrift.  As  the  body  doth  languilli  in  con- 
fuming  fevers,  when  the  native  heat  abates  within, 
and  an  unnatural  heat  inflaming  the  external  parts 
iucceeds ;  fo  when  the  zeal  of  a  chriftian  doih  leave 
the  internals  of  religion,  and  fly  to  externals,  or  in- 
terior things,  the  foul  mud  needs  confume  and  Ian- 
guifli.  Yea,  though  you  were  fure  your  opinions 
were  true,  yet  when  the  chief  of  your  zeal  is  turned 
thither,  and  the  chief  of  your  conference  there  laid 
out,  the  life  of  ^racc  decays  within. 

Therefore  let  me  advlfe  you  that  afpire  after  this 
jioyouslife,  fpend  not  your  thouglits,  your  time,  your 
ieal,  or  your  fpeeches  upon  quarrekthat  lefs  concern 
TOur  fouls  :  but  when  others  are  feeding  on  hufl<s 
or  fhells,  or  on  this  heated  food  which  will  burn  their 
lips,  far  fooner  than  warm  and  Ilrengthen  their  hearts; 

then 


The  Saints  Everlajiing  Reji,     303 

then  do  you  feed  on  the  joys  above.  I  could  wii'h 
you  were  all  undcrftaadhig  men,  able  to  defend  every 
truth  of  God  ;  but  Hill  I  would  have  the  chief  to  be 
chiefly  lludied,  and  none  to  (boulder  out  your  thoughts 
of  eternity  :  the  lead  controverted  points  are  ufually 
moll  weighty,  and  of  molt  neceiTary  ufe  to  our  fouls. 

5.  As  you  value  the  comforts  of  a  heavenly  life, 
take  heed  of  a  proud  and  lofty  fpiiit.  There  is  fucli 
an  antipathy  between  this  fin  and  God,  that  thou  wilt 
never  get  thy  heart  near  him,  as  long  as  this  prevail- 
eth  in  it.  If  it  caft  the  angels  from  heaven  that  were 
in  it,  it  mud  needs  keep  thy  heart  estranged  from  it. 
If  it  caft  our  firft  parents  out  of  paradife,  aird  feparat- 
ed  between  the  Lord  and  us,,  it  muft  needs  keep  our 
hearts  from  paradife,  and  increafe  the  ciirfed  feparatioa 
from  our  God.  The  delight  of  God  is  an  humbkt 
foul,  even  him  that  Is  contrite,  and  trembleth  at  his 
word:  and  the  delight  of  an  humble  foul  is  in  God  : 
and  fure  where  tliere  is  mutual  delight,  there  will  he 
freeft  admittance,  and  heartielt  welcome,  and  mofh 
frequent  converfe.  Well  then,  art  thou  a  man  of 
worth  in  thine  own  eyes?  And  very  tender  of  thine 
efteera  with  others?  A\rt  thou  one  that  much  valuelb 
applaufe  and  feeleft  deligiit  when  thou  hearell  of  tliy 
great  efleem  with  men;  and  art  dcjed'ted  when  thoa 
heareft  that  men  flight  thee?  Dotl  thou  love  tliofe 
moft  w'no  bcft  honour  thee;  and  doth  thy  heart  bear 
a  grudge  at  thofe  that  thou  thinkell  undervalue  thee  ? 
Wilt  thou  not  be  brought  t©  fhame  thyfelf,  by  hum- 
ble confeflion  wlien  thou  haft  finned  againft  God,  or 
injured  thy  brother?  Art  thou  ane  that  honoareii  the 
rich?  and  thinkeft  thyfelf  fomebody  if  they  value 
and  own  thee?  but  lookeft  ftrangely  at  the  poor,  and 
art  almoft  aftiamed  to  be  their  companion?  Art  thou 
unacquainted  with  the  deceitfulnefs  and  wickednefs 
of  ihy  heart?  Or  knoweft  thyfelf  to  be  vile  only  by 
rtadJn^,  not  by  feeling  thy  vilencf^?  Art  thou  readi- 
er 


304    The  Saints  Lverhifting  Rejl. 

ev  to  defend  thyfclf  and  maintain  thine  innpcency,t}.an 
to  acciife  thjlclt",  or  corifef^  thy  fault  ?  Canfl  tluni 
}iardly  hear  a  Ciofe  rcpioof,  or  plain-dcau'njr  without 
difficulty  and  diOaftt?  Art  thou  readier  in  thy  dif- 
courfe  to  teach  than  toltain  ;  and  to  dilate  to  others, 
titan  to  hearken  to  their  ir-ftruftions?  Art  thou  bold 
and  conildent  of  thy  own  opinions,  and  little  fufpi- 
cious  of  the  weaknefs  of  thy.  iinderflandinp?  Uit  a 
fliglt-T  of  the  judgment  of  all  that  arc  againft  thee  ? 
1 3  thy  fnirit  more  difpofcd  to  connrand  than  to  cbt-y  ? 
/\rt  tlujj  ready  to  ccnfiire  tlie  dodrine  of  thy  teachers, 
the  adioiis  of  thynilers,  and  the  pcrfoiis  of  thy  bre- 
thren? And  to  think,  if  thou  vert  ii  j'^f^g^j  thou 
\souU;ll  be  morejiifl  ;  or  if  thouKrert  a  mitiiittr,  thou 
u'culdd  l>e  more  frXiitfu^'and  more  faithful  ?  If  thefe 
fyrnptonv3  be  in  tliy  heart,  beyond  doubt  thou  art  a 
proud  pcrfon,  Tiiou  art  abominably  pror.d  ;  there  is 
too  much  of  hell  abiding  in  thee,  for  thee  to  have  any 
acquaintance  at  heaven:  thy  foul  is  too  like  the  devil, 
to  have  any  familiarity  v.ilh  God. 

1  entreat  yon  be  very  jeVlous  of  your  fouls  in  this 
point:  tiiere  is  nothing  will  more  eftrange  you  from 
God:  I  fpeak  the  more  of  it,  becaufe  it  is  the  mod 
commoi!  and  dangerous  fin,  and  molt  promoting  the 
great  im  of  infidelity  :  you  would  little  think  what 
liumble  carriage,  what  exclaiming  again  ft  pride,  what 
fflf-accufing  may  Hand  with  this  devilifn  Hn  of  pride. 
O  chriftian,  if  thou  v^ouldil;  live  continually  in  the 
piefence  of  thy  Lord,  and  lie  in  the  duft,  he  would 
tlience  take  t!;cc  up  ;  defcend  firft  with  him  into  tlie 
<;ravc,  and  thence  thou  mayeft  afcend  with  him  to  glo- 
ly.  Learn  of  hitn  to  be  meek  and  lowly,  and  then 
tiiou  mayeft  tafte  of  this  reft  to  thy  foul.  Thy  ft)ul 
tlfe  uill  b?  as  thf  troubled  frat  ivhkh  cannot  rejl :  and 
iiillcad  of  lliefe  fweet  delights  In  God,  thy  pride  will, 
fill  thee  with  perpetual  difqulctude. 

6.  Another 


The  Saints  EverlaJIlng  Refl,     305 

6.  Another  impediment  to  this  heavenly  life  is,  lazi- 
iiefs,  and  flothfulnefs  of  fpirit:  and  I  verily  tliink  for 
knowing  men,  there  is  nothing  hinders  more  than  this. 
If  it  were  only  the  exercife  of  the  body,  the  moving 
•  of  the  lips,  the  bending  of  the  knee ;  then  men  would 
as  commonly  ftep  to  heaven,  as  they  go  a  few  miles  to 
vifit  a  friend;  yea,  if  it  were  to  fpend  our  days  in 
numbering  beads,  and  repeating  certain  words  and 
prayers,  or  in  the  outward  parts  of  duties  commanded 
by  God,  yet  it  were  comparatively  eafy  :  further,  if 
it  were  only  in  the  exercife  of  parts  and  gifts,  it  were 
eafier  to  be  heavenly-minded.  But  it  is  a  work  more 
difficult  than  all  this;  to  feparate  our  thoughts  and  af- 
fedions  from  the  world;  to  draw  forth  all  our  graces 
in  their  order,  and  exercife  each  on  its  proper  obje(5i, 
to  hold  them  to  this,  till  the  work  doth  thtive  and 
profper  in  their  hands  ;  th"is  is  the  difficult  tail:. 
Heaven  is  above  thee,  the  way  is  upv^ards;  doll  thou 
think,  who  art  a  feeble  finner,  to  travel  daily  this  Iteep 
afcent  without  a  great  deal  of  labour  and  refolution? 
Can'il  thou  pjet  that  earthly  heart  to  heaven,  and  bring 
that  backward  mind  to  God,  while  thou  liefl  dill, 
and  takel-t  thine  eafe  ?  If  lying  down  at  the  foot  of  the 
hill,  and  looking  toward  the  top,  and  wilhing  we  were 
there,  would  ferve  the  turn,  then  we  Ihould  have  dai- 
ly travellers  for  heaven.  But  the  kingdom  of  heaven 
fuj^aetb  luoierice,  and  the  violent  tale  it  by  force.  There 
mall  be  violence  ufcd  to  get  the  fird-fruits,  as  well  as 
to  get  the  full  polTeffion.  Doft  thou  not  feel  it  h, 
though  I  Should  not  tell  thee?  Will  thy  heart  get  up- 
wards except  thou  drive  it  i  Dod  tliou  find  it  eafy  to 
dwell  in  the  delights  above  ?  It  is  true,  the  work  is 
fweet,  and  no  condition  on  earth  fo  delirable ;  but 
therefore  it  is  that  oar  hearts  are  fo  backward;  efpe- 
cially  in  the  beginning,  till  we  are  acquainted  with 
it.  O  how  many  who  can  eafily  bring  their  hearts  to 
t>rd;nary  duties,  as  reading,  hearing,  praying,  con- 
ferring, could  never  yet  in  all  their  Hvcs;  bring  them, 
C  c  3  aud 


o 


06    The  Saints  Evcruijling  Rtjl. 


and  keep  t'lem  to  a  heavenly  contemplation  one  Iialf 
hour  together!  Confidcr  here,  reader,  as  before  tht 
I.oVd,  uJjethcr  tliii  be  not  thine  own  cafe.  Thou  haft: 
hnown  that  heaven  is  alt  thy  hopes;  ihoii  knoweft 
thou  niuft  fl.ortly  be  turned  hence,  and  tb.at  nothing 
below  can  yield  thee  rdl :  thou  knoweft  alfo  that  a 
^Irange  heart,  a  fcldom  and  carelefs  tliinking  of 
leaven,  can  fttcli  but  little  comfort  thence:  and  doft 
I'lou  yet  for  :ill  this  let  flip  tl;y  opportunities,  when 
ihou  flionldll  vialk  above,  and  live  with  God?  Doft 
il-.cu  commend  the  fwettnefs  of  an  heavenly  life,  and 
rot  d.dil  never  once  try  it  ihyfelf?  But  as  the  fluggard 
rl.iat  ft  retched  himftlf  on  his  bed,  and  ciifd,  O  that 
iTiis  were  working!  So  dofl  thou  live  atHliy  cafe,  and 
i?.\,  O  that  Leonid  get  my  heart  to  luaven  !  Hove 
iriany  read  books,  and  hear  fermons,  in  expectation  ta 
i)ear  of  fome  eafy  courfe,  or  to  meet  with  a  fncrter 
cut  to  comforts',  than  ever  they  are  like  to  find  ?  And 
if  they  can  hear  of  none  from  the  preachers  of  truth, 
they  will  fnatch  it  with  rejoicing  from  the  teachers  of 
fjilfehood  ;  and  prefenily  applaiid  tlie  excellency  of  the 
<'.D(^rlne,  becaufe  it  hatli  fitted  their  lazy  temper  ;  and 
ri.ink  th.ere  is  no  other  dod^rine  will  comfort  the  foul, 
Ixcaufe  it  will  not  comfort  it  with  hearing  and  look- 
Viig  en.  And  while  they  pretend  enmity  only  to  the 
law,  they  cppofe  th.e  cafier  conditions  of  the  gofpel, 
-.■id  caft  G.Tihe  burden  which  all  mult  bear  that  find 
rell  to  their  fouls:  the  Lord  of  light,  and  fniric  of 
comfort,  fhew  thefe  men  in  time,  a  furer  way  for  lad- 
ing comfort.  It  was  an  eftabliflicd  law  among  the  Ar^- 
;  ?',  That  if  3  m?»  were  perceived  to  be  idle  and  lazyj 
he  mull  give  an  account  before  the  magiilvate,  how  he 
came  by  his  vidluals  and  maintenance  :  and  fure  when 
1  fee  thefe  men  lazy  in  the  ufe  of  God's  appoint* 
cd  means  for  comfort,  I  cannot  but  queilion  hpw 
they  come  by  their  comfort-s:  1  would  they  would  ex- 
:;;nine  it  thoroughly  themftlves;  for  God  will  re- 
CMiire  an  accouiil  of  it  from  them.      Idlcnefs,  and  not 

improving 


The  Saints  Evcrlajling  Rejl^     307 

improving  tiie  truth  in  painful  duty,  is  the  ccmmon 
caufe  of  men's  feeking  comfort  from  error  :  even  as 
the  people  of  IfraeU  when  they  had  no  comfortable 
anfvver  from  God,  becaiife  of  their  own  fm  and  negltsft, 
would  run  to  feck  it  from  the  idols  of  the  hcatliens  : 
fo  when  men  are  falfe-hearted,  and  ihe  Spirit  of  truth 
denies  them  comfort,  becnufe  they  deny  him  obedience, 
they  will  feck  it  from  a  lying  fpirit. 

My  advice  to  fuch  a  lazy  ilnner,  is  this :  as  thou  art 
convI6\cd  that  this  work  is  necciTary  to  tliy  comfort, 
fo  refolvedly  fet  upon  it:  if  thy  heait  draw  back,  and 
be  undifpofed,  force  it  oji  with  the  command  ^f  rca- 
fon  ;  and  if  thy  reafon  begin  to  difpute  the  work,  force 
it  with  producincr  the  commaml  of  God  ;  and  quicken 
it  with  tiie  confideration  of  thy  necefTity,  and  liie  other 
motives  before  prepou.ided  :  r.nd  let  the  inforcements 
that  brought  thee  to  the  work,  be  Hill  in  lliy  mind  to 
quicken  thee  'w^  it.  Do  not  let  fuch  an  incomp.nrahje 
treafure  lie  before  thee,  while  lluniliell  flill  with  thy 
Irand  in  thy  bofoni :  let  net  thy  life  be  a  continual  vex- 
ation, which  might  be  a  continual  L\t11,  and  all  be- 
caufe  thou  wilt  not  be  at  the  pains.  v^'hen  thou  hafl 
cnce  tailed  the  fwcetntfs  of  it,  and  a  little  uftd  thy 
heart  to  the  work,  ih.ou  wiltlind  th.e pains  thoti  takcit 
abundantly  rccompenfed.  Only  fit  not  ib!li  wiih  a  dif- 
confolate  fpirit,  wJiile  comforts  grow  before  thine  eyes. 
Ncit'aer  is  it  a  itw  formal,  lazy,  running  thoughts', 
that  will  fetch  thee  this  confrjlntion  from  above  :  no 
more  than  a  fevi'  lazy  formal  words  will  prevail  with 
God  iniiead  of  fervent  prayer,  i  know  Chrifi  is  the 
fountain,  and  I  know  this,  as  every  other  gift,  is  of 
God  ;  but  yet  if  tliou  afk  my  advice,  how  to  obtain 
thef-e  waters  of  confolation  ;  1  muft  tcu  thee,  there  is 
fomething  alfty  for  thee  to  d,o  :  the  gofpei  hath  its  con- 
ditions, and  works,  though  not  fuch  impolTible  ones, 
as  the  law  ;  Chrill  hatli  his  yoke  and  his  buiden, though 
tafvj  and  then  muit  take   it    up,  or  thou   wilt  never 

lini 


i7 


308     The  Saints  Evsrla/l'mg  Rejl. 

find  reft  to  thy  foul.  I  know  fo  far  as  you  arc  fplrl- 
tual,  you  need  not  nil  this  driving  and  violence,  but 
that  is  but  in  part,  and  in  part  you  are  carnal ;  and  as 
loMg  as  it  is  fo,  there  is  no  talk  of  eafe.  It  was  the 
Parthians'*  cuflom,  that  none  mull  give  their  children 
any  meat  in  the  morning,  before  they  faw  the  fvveat 
on  their  fa^es  ;  and  you  fhall  find  this  to  be  God's 
mod  ufual  courfc,  not  to  give  his  children  the  tafte 
of  his  dcliglits,  till  they  begin  to  fv\'eat  in  feeking  af- 
ter them.  Therefore  lay  them  both  together,  and 
judge  whether  an  heavenly  life,  or  thy  cafe  be  bet- 
ter  ;  and  make  the  clioice  accordingly.  Yet  this  let 
me  fay,  tluni  ncedelt  not  expend  thy  thoughts  more 
than  now  thou  doll  ;  it  is  but  only  to  employ  them 
better  :  I  prefs  thee  not  to  bufy  thy  mind  much  more 
than  thou  doil  ;  but  to  bufy  it  upon  better  and  mors 
pleafant  objects.  Employ  butfo  many  ferious  thoughts 
every  day,  upon  the  excellent  glory  of  the  life  to 
come,  as  thou  now  employed  on  the  affairs  in  the 
world  :  nay,  as  thou  daily  lofeft  on  vanities,  and  thy 
Jieart  will  be  at  heaven  in  a  fhoit  fpace. 

7.  It  is  alfo  a  dangerous  hinxlerance,  t-o  content 
ourfelves  with  the  mere  preparatives  to  this  heavenly 
life,  while  we  are  (Irangers  to  the  lifeitfclf;  whea 
we. take  up  with  the  mere  ftudiesof  heavenly  things, 
and  the  notions  and  thoughts  of  tl.em  in  our  biain, 
or  the  talking  of  them  with  one  auotJier,  as  if  thi«. 
were  all  that  makes  us  hcaveiily  people.  There  is 
Eone  in  mure  danger  of  this  fnare,  than  thofe  that  ara 
much  in  pufclic  duty,  efpccially  preachers  of  the  gof- 
ptl.  O  how  cafjly  may  they  be  deceived  here,  while 
they  do  nothing  more  than  read  of  heaven,  and  ftudy 
of  heaven,  an^!  preach  of  heaven,  and  pray,  and  talk 
of  heaven  !  What,  is  not  this  the  heavenly  life  ?  O 
that  God  would  reveal  to  our  hearts  the  danger  of 
this  fnare  !  Alas,  all  this  is  but  mere  preparation  ; 
this  is  not  the  life   wc  fpeak  of.  though  it  is  a  hel^; 

tlieictu*. 


The  Saints  E'vcrlaJJlng  Reft,     309 

t!ier(  to.  I  entreat  every  one  of  my  brethre:i  in  the 
inlnillry,  that  they  fenrch  and  watch  againll  this  temp- 
tation :  this  is  but  gathering  the  materials,  and  not 
the  eretting  the  building  :  this  is  but  gathering  man- 
na for  others,  not  eating  and  digeiling  curfelves  :  as 
lie  that  fits  at  home  may  (ludy  geography,  and  draw 
moil  exaCi  dcfcriptiona  of  countries,  and  yet  never 
fee  them,  nor  travel  toward  them  :  fo  may  you  de- 
fcribe  to  others  the  joys  of  heaven,  and  yet  never  come 
near  it  In  your  own  hearts;  if  you  (hould  ftudy  of 
nothing  but  heaven  while  you  lived,  and  preach  of 
nothing  but  heaven  to  your  people,  yet  might  your 
own  hearts  be  Grangers  to  it :  we  are  under  a  more 
fubtle  temptation  than  other  men,  to  draw  us  from 
this  lieavenly  life  :  if  our  employments  lay  at  a  great- 
er diftance  fiora  heaven,  we  fhould  not  be  {o  apt  to  be 
thus  deluded  :  but  wlien  we  find  ouifelvcs  employed 
upon  nothing  elfe,  we  are  eafier  drawn  to  take  up 
here.  Studying  and  preaching  of  heaven  is  liker  to 
an  heavenly  life,  than  thinking  and  talking  of  the 
world  is,  and  the  likenefs  it  is  that  may  deceive  us  : 
this  is  to  die  tlie  moft  tniferabic  death,  even  to  famifh 
curfelves,  bccaufe  we  have  bread  on  our  tables,  and  to 
dieforlhiirt  while  we  draw  water  for  others:  think- 
ing it  enough  that  we  have  daily  to  do  with  it,  though 
we  never  drink  it. 

CHAP.     IV. 
Some  general  Helps  io  Heavenly -mindednefs* 

HAVING  thusHiewcd  thee  what  hinderances  vviU 
refill  thee  in  the  work,  I  (liall  now  lay  down 
fume  politive  helps.  But  fivft,  1  exptcl  that  thou  re- 
folve   againd   the    foiie-mentioned    impediments,  that 

thou 


3 1  o    The  Saints  Everhijling  Rejl. 


or 


thou  read  them  ferioufly,  and  avoid  them  faithfully, 
clfe  thy  labour  \vill  be  all  in  vain;  thou  doft  but  go 
about  to  reconcile  light  and  darknefs,  Chnjl  and  Belial, 
heaven  and  hell  in  thy  fpirit  ;  I  muft  tell  thee  alfo,  that 
1  ey.pi.6l  thy  promifc,  faithfully  to  fct  upon  the  helps 
w'mMi  r  prefcribe  thee  ;  and  that  the  reading  of  them 
u-jil  not  bring  heaven  into  thy  heart,  but  in  their  con- 
flant  pradticc  the  Spirit  will  do  it. 

As  thou  valneft  then  thefe  foretaftes  of  heaven,  make 
conlcience  of  performing  thefe  following  duties  ; 

T.  Know  heaven  to  be  the  only  treafure,  and  la- 
bour i:;  knovv  what  a  treafure  it  is;  be  convinced 
that  thou  hnft  no  other  happinefs,  and  be  convinced 
xylat  itappinefsis  there  :  if  thou  doft:  not  foundly  be- 
lieve it  to  be  the  chief  good,  thou  wilt  never  fet  thy 
heart  upon  it ;  and  this  conviction  muft  fink  into  thy 
affedtions  ;  for  if  it  be  cnly  a  notion,  it  will  have  little 
operation. 

2.   Lr.bonr  as  to  know   heaven  to  be  the  only  hap- 
pinefs,   fo    alfo   to    he   thy    happinefs.     Though  the 
knowledge   of  excellency  and  fiiitablenefs  may  llir  up 
that  love  which  worketh  by   defire,  yet  there  muft  be 
the   knowh'dge   of   cur    intereft   or  propriety    to  the 
fettin^  at  work  our  love   of  complacency.      We  may 
confcfs  heaven  to  be  the   heft  condition,  though  we 
defpair  of  enjoying  it  ;  and   we   may    defire  and  feek 
it,  if  we  lee  the  obtainment   to  be  but  probable;  but 
we   can    never   delightfully   rejoice    in    it,  till  we  are! 
pjerfuaded  of  our  title  to  it.     What  comfort  is  it  to  a] 
man  that  is   naked  to  fee   the  rich    attire  of  others?! 
Or,   to  a  man  that  hath  not  a  bit  to  put  in  his  mouthy 
to  fee  a  feall  which  he  muft  not  tafte  of  ?    What   dcj 
light  hath  a  man  tluic  hatli  not  a  houfe  to  put  hia  he. 
in,  to  fee  rhe  fumptuows  buildings  of  others  ?  Woul 
cot  ail  this  rather  incrciife  his  anguifti,  and  make  hii 

mor 


The  Saints  Everla/ling  Re/i.     3 1 1 

more  fenfible  of  his  mlfery  ?  So,  for  a  man  to  know 
the  excellencies  of  heaven,  and  not  to  know  whether 
he  (hall  ever  enjoy  thtm,  may  well  raife  defire  to  feek 
it,  but  it  will  raife  but  little  joy  and  content. 

3.  Another  help  to  the  fore-^tafte  of  red  is  this  :  la- 
bour to  apprehend  how  near  it  is  :  think  ferioufly  of 
its  fpeedy  approach.  That  which  we  think  is  near 
at  hand,  we  are  more  fenfible  of  than  that  which  we 
behold  at  a  diilance.  When  we  hear  of  war  or  famine 
in  another  country,  It  troubleth  us  not  fo  much  ;  or 
if  we  hear  it  prophefied  of  a  long  time  hence  fo  if 
if  we  hear  of  plenty  a  great  way  off  or  of  a  golden  age 
that  (hall  fall  out,  who  knows  when,  this  never  re- 
joiceth  us.  But  if  judgments  or  mercies  draw  near, 
then  they  affedl  us.  T  his  makes  men  think  on  hea- 
ven fo  infenfibly,  becaufe  they  conceit  it  at  a  great 
diftance  :  they  look  on  it  as  twenty,  or  thirty,  or 
forty  years  off;  and  this  it  is  that  dulls  their  fenfe. 
i\s  wicked  men  are  fearlefsand  ftnfelefs  of  judgment^ 
becaufe  the  fentence  is  not  fpeedily  executed  ;  fo  are 
the  good  deceived  of  their  comforts,  by  fuppofing 
.thtm  further  off  than  they  are.  How  much  better 
were  it  to  receive  the  fentence  of  death  in  ourfelves, 
and  to  look  on  eternity  as  near  at  hand  ?  Surely, 
reader,  thou  flandeft  at  the  door,  and  hundreds  of  dif- 
eafts  are  ready  waiting  to  open  the  door  and  let  tiiee 
in.  Are  not  the  thirty  or  forty  years  of  thy  life  that 
are  paft  quickly  gone  ?  Are  they  not  a  very  little 
time  when  thou  Icokefl:  back  on  them  ?  And  will  not 
all  the  reft  be  shortly  fo  too  ?  Do  not  days  and  nights 
come  very  thick  ?  Doft  thou  not  feel  that  building  of 
fiefh  to  fnake,  and  perceive  thy  houfe  of  clay  to  tot- 
ter ?  Look  on  thy  glafs,  fee  how  it  runs  :  look  on  thy 
watch,  how  faft  it  goeth  ;  what  a  fliort  moment  is 
between  us  and  our  reft  ;  what  a  ftep  is  it  from  hence 
to  everlaftlngnefs  !  While  I  am  thinking  and  writing 
cf  it,  it  hafteih  near,  and  1  am  even  entering  into  it 

before 


3 1 2     7  he  Saints  Everhifiing  Reft. 

before  I  am  aware.  While  thou  art  reading  this,  it 
pofteth  on,  and  thy  h'fe  will  be  gone  as  a  tale  that  is 
told.  Mayll  thou  not  eafily  forelce  thy  dying  time, 
end  look  upon  thyfelf  as  ready  to  depart  ?  It  is  but  a 
few  days  till  thy  friends  (hall  lay  thee  in  the  grave, 
and  others  do  the  like  for  them.  If  you  verily  believ- 
ed you  fhould  die  to-morrow,  how  ferioufly  would 
you  think  of  heaven  to-night  !  The  true  apprehenfions 
of  the  nearnefs  of  eternity,  doth  make  men's  thoughts 
of  it  quick  and  piercing  ;  put  life  into  their  fears  and. 
forrows,  if  they  be  unlit  :  and  into  their  defires  and 
joys,  if  they  have  affurance  of  its  glory. 

4.  Another  help  to  this  is,  to  be  much  in  ferious 
difcourfing  ot  it,  efptcially  with  thofe  that  can  fpeak 
from  their  hearts.  It  is  pity  faith  Mr.  BgUoti)  that 
chriftians  fhould  ever  meet  together,  without  fome 
talk  of  their  meeting  in  heaven  :  it  is  pity  fo  much 
precious  time  is  fpcnt  in  vain  difcourfes  and  iuftlefa 
disputes,  and  not  a  fober  word  of  heaven.  Methinks 
we  fhould  meet  together  on  purpofe  to  warm  our 
fpirits  with  difcourfing  of  our  reft.  To  hear  a  mi- 
iiider  or  private  chriftian  fet  forth  that  glorious  ftate, 
witli  power  and  life  from  the  promifes  of  the  gofpel, 
methinks  ihould  make  us  fay,  as  the  two  difciples. 
Did  not  our  hearts  burn  lu'uh'm  usj  'while  he  was  opening 
to  us  the  fcr'ipiure  ?  While  he  was  opening  to  us  the 
windows  of  heaven  ?  Get  then  together  fellow-chiifti- 
ans,  and  talk  of  the  affairs  of  your  country  and  king- 
don:i,  and  comfort  one  another  with  fuch  words.  This 
may  make  our  hearts  revive  withm  us,  as  it  did  jfacb^s 
to  hear  the  meffapje  that  called  him  to  G<>/heny  and  to 
fee  the  chariots  that  fliould  bring  him  to  Jofeph.  O 
that  we  were  furnlfl^ed  with  f]-:ill  and  refolution  to 
turn  the  ilream  of  men's  common  difcourfc  to  thefe 
more  fublime  and  precious  things  !  r.nd  when  men  be- 
gin to  talk  of  things  unprofitable,  that  we  could  tell 
how  to  put  in  a  word  fu»r  heavca. 

5.  Another 


The  Saints  Evcrlaji'mg  Refi,    3  1 3 

5.  Another  help  Is  thj?,  make  it  thy  bufint-fs  In 
every  duty,  to  wind  up  thy  affedions  neaier  heaven. 
A  man's  attainments  from  God  are  anfwerable  lo  his 
own  defires  and  ends  :  that  which  he  Ihicerely  fceks 
he  finds  ;  God's  w'X  In  the  inilitution  of  Ills  ordinan- 
ces was,  that  they  be  as  fo  many  ftepping-floncs  to 
our  rert,  and  as  the  flairs  by  which  (in  fubordination 
to  Chrji)  we  may  daily  afcend  unto  it  in  our  afficfli- 
ons  :  let  this  be  thy  end  n\  ufjng  them,  as  it  was 
God's  end  in  ordaining  them  ;  and  doubtlcfs  they 
will  not  be  unfuccefoful.  ]\Ien  that  are  feparated  by 
fea  and  land,  can  yc-t  by  letters  carry  on  gieat  trades, 
even  to  the  value  of  their  whole  eliate  :  and  may  not 
a  chriftian  in  the  wife  improvement  of  duties,  drive 
on  this  happy  trade  for  reil  ?  Come  -not  therefore  with 
any  lower  ends  to  duties:  renounce  familiarity,  cuf- 
tomarlnefs  and  applaufc.  When  ihoa  kneelell  down 
\n  fecrec  or  public  prayer,  let  It  be  In  hope  to  get  thy 
heart  nearer  God  before  thou  rifell:  off  thy  knees  : 
when  thou  openeft  thy  bible  or  other  books,  let  it  be 
wirhthishope,  to  meetwkhfomepafTage  of  divine  truth, 
and  fomc  fuch  blefiings  of  the  Spirit  with  it,  as  may 
raife  thine  affections  nearer  heaven  :  when  thou  art 
fetting  thy  foot  out  of  thy  door  to  go  to  the  public 
wor(hip,  fay,  I  hope  to  meet  with  fomewhat  from 
Cod  that  may  raife  my  affeftions  before  I  return  ;  I 
hope  the  Splilt  will  give  me  the  meeting,  and  fwect- 
en  my  heart  with  thofe  celellial  delights;  I  hops  that 
Chrift  will  appear  to  me  hi  the  way,  and  flilne  about 
me  with  light  from  heaven,  and  let  me  hear  his  in- 
ilruftlng  and  reviving  voice,  and  caufe  the  fcales  to 
fall  from  mine  eyes,  that  I  may  fee  more  of  that  glory 
than  I  ever  yet  law  ;  I  hope  before  I  return  to  my 
houfe,  my  Lord  will  take  my  heart  in  hand,  and 
bring  it  within  the  view  of  reil,  and  fet  it  before  his 
Father's  prtfencc,  that  I  may  return,  as  the  fhepherds 
from  the  heavenly  vifion,  glorifying  and  pralfingr 
God.  Remember  alfo  to  pray  for  thy  te?.cher,  that 
D  d  God 


3 1 4    The  Saints  Everlajiing  Reji. 

QtvA  would  put  fome   divine  mtfia^e    into  his  moulH 
which  may  leave  an  heavenly  relifh  on  thy  fplrit. 

If  thefe  were  our  ends,  and  this  our  courfe  when 
we  fct  to  duty,  we  fiiould  not  be  fo  llrange  as  we  are 
to  heaven. 

6.  Another  help  is  this :  make  an  advantage  of 
every  obje<5l  thou  feeft,  and  of  every  pafTage  of  Divine 
Providence,  and  of  every  thing  that  befals  thee  in  tliy 
labour  and  calling,  to  mind  thy  foul  of  its  approach- 
itig  reft.  As  all  providences  and  creatures  are  means 
to  our  reft,  fo  do  they  point  us  to  that  as  their  end. 
Every  creature  hatrh  the  name  of  God  and  of  our  final 
reft  written  upon  it,  which  a  confiderate  believer  may 
as  truly  difcern,  as  he  can  read  upon  a  hand  in  a  crofs- 
May  the  name  of  the  town  or  city  it  points  to.  This 
ipiiitual  ufe  of  .creatures  and  providences  is  God's 
great  end  in  bcftowing  them  on  man  ;  and  he  that  over- 
iooks  this  end,  muft  needs  rob  God  of  his  chief  praife, 
and  deny  him  the  greateft  part  of  his  thanks.  This 
relation  that  our  prefenc  mercies  have  to  our  great 
eternal  mercies,  is  the  very  quintefience  and  fpirit  of 
all  thefe  mercies  ;  therefore  do  they  lofe  the  very  fpi- 
jrlt  of  all  their  mercies,  and  take  nothing  but  the  huflvs, 
Y/ho  overlook  this  relation,  and  draw  not  forth  the 
iwcetnefs  of  it  in  their  contemplations.  God's  fweet- 
eft  dealings  with  us  would  not  be  half  fo  fvveet  as  they 
are,  if  they  did  not  intimate  fome  further  fwectneft. 
Asourfelves  have  a  fleftily  and  fpiritual  fubftance,  fo 
have  our  mercies  a  fleftily  and  fpiiitual  ufe,  and  are 
tilted  to  the  nouriiliing  of  both  our  parts.  He  that 
receives  the  carnal  part  and  no  more,  may  have  his 
body  comforted  by  them,  but  not  his  foul.  O  there- 
fore that  chriltians  were  f]<illcd  in  this  art !  You  can 
open  your  bibles,  and  read  there  of  God  and  of  glory  : 
O  Icara  to  open  the  creatures,  and  the  feveral  paifages 
of  Providence,  to  read  of  God  and  gloiy  there.  Cer- 
tainly 


The  Saints  Everln/l'mg  Rell,     315 

tainly  by  fach  a  flcllfiil  improv;.^ment  we  mlglit  have 
a  fiiller  tafte  of  Chi  ill  and  heaven,  in  evevy  bit  we  eat, 
and  in  every  draught  we  drink,  than  mod  men  have  in 
the  life  of  the  facranient. 

If  thoti  profpcr  in  the  world,  let  it  make  thee  more 
feiifibk'of  thy  ptrpetiial  profperity  :  Ifthoii  be  weary 
of  thy  labours,  let  It  make  thy  thoughts  of  reft  more 
fweet :  if  things  go  crofs  with  thee,  let  it  make  thee 
moreearnellly  defire  that  day,  when  all  thy  Aifferlngs 
and  forrow  fliail  ceafe.  Is  thy  body  refreHied  witli 
food  or  fleep  ?  remember  the  inconceivable  refrefhings 
with  Chrift.  Doft  thou  hear  any  news  that  makes 
thee  glad  ?  remember  what  glad  tidings'  it  will  be 
to  hear  the  found  of  the  trump  of  God,  and  the  ab- 
folving  fentence  of  Chrift  our  judge.  Art  tiiou  de- 
lighting thyfelfin  the  fociety  of  the  faints  ?  remember 
the  everlafting  amiable  fociety  thou  (halt  have  with 
perfedled  faints  in  reft.  Is  God  communicating  him- 
felf  to  thy  fpirit  ?  'remember  that  time  when  tliy  joy 
fnall  be  full.  Doft  thou  hear  or  feel  the  tempcft  of 
wars,  or  fee  any  cloud  of  blood  arifing  ?  remember 
the  day  that  thou  (halt  be  houfed  with  Chrift,  where 
there  is  nothing  but  calmnefs  and  amiable  union,  and 
where  we  (liall  folace  ourfelves  in  perfect  peace,  under 
"the  wings  of  the  prince  of  peace.  Thus  you  may  fee 
what  advantages  to  an  heavenly  life  every  conditlou 
and  creature  d'th  afford  us,  if  \v€  have  but  hearts  ta 
apprehend  and  improve  them. 

7.  Another  (Angular  help  is  this  :  be  much  in  that 
angelical  work  of  p.*aife.  As  the  moft  heavenly  fpi- 
rits  will  have  the  moft  heavenly  employment,  fo  the 
move  heavenly  the  employment,  the  more  will  it  make 
the  fpirit  heavenly  :  though  the  heart  be  the  fountain 
of  all  our  actions,  yet  do  thofe  adlions,  by  a  kind  of 
refle£tion,  work  much  on  the  heart  from  whence  they 
fpring  :  the  likealfo  may  be  faldof-our  fpeechcs.     So 

that 


3 1 6    The  Saints  Evcrlaf.w.g  Reft, 

that  the  work  of  pralling  God,  being  the  mod  heaven- 
ly woik,  is  likely  to  raife  m  to  the  moil  heavenly 
temper.  Thii  is  the  work  of  thofe  faints  and  angels, 
and  this  will  be  our  own  eveilafting  woik  ;  if  we  were 
more  taken  up  in  this  employment  now,  we  fhould  be 
liker  to  what  we  (hall  be  then.  V/ben  Arijioti:  was 
af^ed  what  he  thought  of  mufic,  he  anfwers  Jovem 
Tisque  canere,  neque  c'ltharara  pulj.ire  ;  that  yupiter  did 
neither  Gng,  nor  play  on  the  harp  ;  thinking  it  an  un- 
profitable ait  to  men,  which  was  no  more  delightful 
to  God  But  chriflians  may  better  argue  from  the 
like  ground,  that  fmging  of  praife  is  a  mofl  piofitable 
ilaty,  becaufc  it  is  as  it  were  fo  delightful  to  God 
himfelf,  that  he  hath  made  it  his  people's  eternal  work  ; 
for  they  floa'!  Jingthe  f.ng  of  Mofes,  and  the  jong  of  the 
Lamb.  As  defjie,  and  faith,  and  hope,  are  of /horter 
contiauaiice  than  love  anu  joy  ;  fo  alfo  preaching,  and 
prayer,  and  facraments,  and  all  means  for  confirma- 
tion, and  e''picir^on  of  faith  and  hope,  fliall  ceafe, 
when  our  thanks  and  praife,  and  triumphant  exprefii- 
ons  of  love  and  joy  fhall  abide  for  ever.  The  livelitft 
emblem  of  Keaveir  that  I  know  upon  earth  is,  when 
the  people  of  God  in  the  deep  fenfe  of  his  excellency 
and  bounty,  from  heaits  abounding  with  love  and  joy, 
join  together  both  in  heart  and  voice,  in  the  cheerful 
and  melodious  finging  of  his  praife.  Thofe  that  de- 
ny theufe  of  finging,  difclofe  their  unheavenly  unex- 
perienced hearts,  as  well  as  their  ignorant  underftand- 
ings.  Had  they  felt  the  heavenly  delights  that  many 
of  their  brethren  in  fuch  duties  have  felt,  they  would 
have  been  of  another  mind  !  And  f.hereas  they  aie 
woRt  to  quellion,  whether  fuch  Helights  be  genuine, 
or  any  better  than  carnal  or  delufive  ?  Suiely  the  ve- 
ry relifh  of  God  and  heaven  that  is  in  them,  the  ex- 
ample of  the  faints  in  fcripture,  whofs  fpiiits  have 
XKta  raifed  by  the  fame  duty,  and  the  command  of 
fcripture  for  the  ufe  of  this  means,  one  would  think 
ihould  quickly  dcllroy  the  controverfy.     And  a  man 

may 


'the  Saints  Everlajling  Rejl,     3 1 7 

may  as  truly  fay  of  thefe  delights,  as  of  tVie  teilimo- 
ny  of  the  fplrit,  that  they  witnefs  themfelves  to  be  of 
God. 

Little  do  we  know  how  we  wron^  ourfelves,  by 
fnutting  out  of  our  piayers  the  praifes  of  God,  or 
allowing  them  fo  narrow  a  room  as  we  ufually  do. 
Reader,  I  entreat  thee,  remember  this :  let  praifes 
have  a  larger  room  in  thy  duties  :  keep  ready  at  hand 
matter  to  feed  thy  pralfe,  as  well  as  matter  for  con- 
fefiion  and  petition.  To  this  end  iludy  the  excellen- 
cies and  goodnefs  of  the  Lord,  as  fiequently  as  thy 
own  neccflitics  and  vilenefs  ;  fludy  the  mercies  whicii 
thou  had  received,  and  which  are  promifed  ;  both 
their  own  worth  and  their  aggravating  circumftances, 
as  often  as  thou  ftudiefl  the  fins  thou  haft  committed. 
G  let  God's  praife  be  much  in  your  mouths.  Seven 
times  a  day  did  D.ivicl  praife  him  ;  yea,  his  praife 
was  continually  of  him.  As  he  that  ofFercth  praife 
glorific'th  God,  fo  doth  he  moft  rejoice  and  glad  his 
own  foul.  Off'dr  the>efors  tht  facr'tjice  of  praife  continu' 
ally  :  in  the  midfl  of  the  church  let  u^fir.g  his  prafe. 

I  confefs,  to  a  man  of  a  languilliin^  body,  where 
the  heart  faints,  ind  the  fpirits  are  feeble,  the  cheer- 
ful praifmg  of  Gt)d  is  more  diiiicult  ;  becaufe  the  bo- 
dy is  the  foul's  inRrument,  and  when  it  lies  untiring- 
ed,  or  untuned,  the  mufic  is  likely  to  be  according- 
ly. Yet  a  fpiritual  cheerfulnefs  there  may  be  with- 
in, and  the  heart  may  praife,  if  not  the  voice.  But 
where  the  body  is  ftrong,  the  fpirits  lively,  and  the 
heart  cheeiful,  and  the  vo^e  at  command,  what  ad- 
vantage have  fuch  for  this  heavenly  work  ?  With  what 
alacrity  may  they  fnig  forth  praifes  ?  O  the  madnefs 
of  healthful  youth,  that  lay  out  this  vigour  of  body 
and  mind  upon  vain  delights,  which  is  fo  fit  for  ti-e 
noble t't  work  of  men  !  x^nd  O  the  finfal  folly  of  ma- 
ny who  drench  their  fpirits  in  continual  fadnefs,  and 
D  d  2  waile 


3 1 8     The  Saints  Everbfnng  Rejf. 

wnfle  tiiclr  days  Jn  complaints  and  groans,  and  fa 
\y\T.kc  thfmfclvcs  unfit  for  tlils  fvveet  arnl  heavenly 
V  oji;  !  that  when  they  flioiild  join  with  the  people  o£ 
Cod  in  hispraife,  and  delijrht  their  fouls  in  fingiog 
\o  his  name,  they  arc  ftudyiog  their  miferies,  and  fa 
?ob  God  of  his  praife,  and  itiemfelves  of  thrir  folace, 
Eut  the  gveatclt  dellroyer  of  our  comfort  in  this  duty. 
is  our  ftickiug  in  the  tunc  and  melody,  an4  fuffering 
tlie  heart  to  be  all  the  while  idle,  which  fhould  per- 
form the  chitrf  pait  oi  the  work. 

S.  Ar.other  thlpg  I  will  advlfe  you  to  is  this;  be 
?,  careful  obferver  of  the  drawings  of  the  Spirit,  and 
f^'arful  of  quenching  its  motions,  of  refilHng  its  work- 
ings :  if  ever  thy  foul  get  above  this  earth,  and  get 
.'^cquaiiited  with  this  living  in  lieaven^  the  Spirit  of 
C»od  rnud  be  to  ibce  as  the  chariot  to  Elijah;  yea, 
the  very  living  principle  by  which  thou  mufl  move 
and  afcend  to  heaven.  O  tiicMv  grieve  not  thy  guide*, 
rucnch  not  thy  life  :  if  thou  dolt,  no  wonder  if  thy 
foi:i  be  at  a  lofs  ;  you  little  think  how  much  the  life 
of  all  your  graces  depends  upon  your  ready  and  cor- 
<'ia]  obedience  to  the  Spirit  :  when  the  Spirit  urgelh 
t.!:ee  to  fecrct  prayer,  and  thou  refifcft  obedience  j 
\v!)eu  he  forbids  thee  a  known  trarfgrefilon,  and  yet 
tfiCH  wilt  go  on  ;  when  he  tclUth  tlice  which  is  the 
vjy,  and  which  not,  aiid  thou  wilt  not  regard,  no 
wonder  if  heave^i  and  thy  foul  be  ftrange;  if  thou 
wilt  not  follow  the  Spirit  while  it  would  draw  thee 
to  Chtift,  and  to  duty  ;  how  fbould  it  lead  thee  to 
lieaven,  and  brhig  thy  heart  into  the  prt  fence  of  God  ? 
0  what  bold  acccfs  fhall  that  foul  find  in  its  approach- 
es to  the  Almighty,  that  is  sccuftoRicd  to  a  conflant 
cDcying  of  the  Spirit  !  And  liow  backward,  how  dull, 
and  P.rarge,  and  afliamed  will  he  be  to  thefe  addrcf- 
fcs,  who  hnth  long  uftd  to  break  nway  from  the  Spi- 
rit that  would  have  guided  him  !  I  bcfetch  thee  learn 
wtll  this  Itflbn,  and  try  this  comfe  ;  \k\  not  the  mo.^ 


TJje  Saints  Everlajiing  Rejt.      319 

lions  of  thy  body  only,  hut  tlie  thoughts  of  thy  heart 
be  at  the  Spirit's  beck.  I>oft  thou  not  feel  fometimes 
a  ftrong  impuhion  to  retire  from  tiie  world,  and  draw 
near  to  God?  O  do  not  thou  difobty,  but  take  the 
rffer,  aird  hoift  up  fail  while  thou  mayell  have  this 
blelTed  gale.  When  this  wind  blows  ftrongell,  thou 
goeft  faftell,  either  backward  or  forward.  The  more 
of  this  Spirit  wc  refift,  the  deeper  will  it  wound,  and 
the  more  we  obey,  the  fpeedier  is  our  pace;  as  he  goes 
iieavieft  that  hath  the  wind  in  his  face,  and  he  eafierti 
that  liatii  it  in  his  back. 

CHAP.     V. 
A  Defcription  of  heavenly  Coritemplatmu 

'"T^HE  main  thing  intended  is  yet  beliind,  a.Td  that. 
_A.  which  I  aimed  at  when  I  itt  upon  this  work, 
^.11  that  I  have  laid  is  but  the  prtparation  to  this.  I 
once  more  entreat  thee  therefore,  as  thou  art  a  man 
tjjat  makefi.  confcieivce  of  a  revealed  duty,  and  that 
tlarell  not  wilfully  refill  the  Spirit,  as  thcou  valued  the 
}>igh  delights  of  a  faint,  and  as  thou  art  faithful  to 
trie  peace  and  profperity  of  thine  own  foul,  that  thou 
diligently  Undy  the  dires^lions  following;  and  that 
thou  fpeedily  and  faithfully  put  them  in  practice:  I 
pray  thee,  therefore,  refolve  before  ihoa  readell  any 
farther,  and  promife  here  as  before  the  Lord,  that 
if  the  following  advice  be  wholefome  to  thy  foul, 
thou  wilt  feriouily  fel  thyfelf  to  the  work,  and  that 
no  lazlnefs  of  fpirit  fliall  lake  tUce  off,  nor  lefTer  bu- 
jinefb  interrupt  thy  courfe,  but  tliat  thou  wilt  approve 
tUyfelf  a  doer  of  this  word,  and  not  an  idle  hearer 
tr.ily-  Is  this  thy  promife,  and  wilt  thou  (land  to  it? 
R'jfulvc,  man,  aad  then  I  ftiall  be  encouraged  to  givq 


320    Tide  Saints  Everlafling  Rcjt, 

thee  my  advice;  only  try  it  throughly,  and  then 
judge:  '\i  in  the  faithful  following  of  this  courfc  thou- 
doft  not  find  an  increafe  of  all  thy  graces,-  and  art  not. 
made  more  ferviceable  in  thy  place  ;  if  thy  foul  en- 
joy not  more  fcUowfhip  wi-th  Ood,  and  thy  life  be 
not  fuller  of  pleafure.  and  thou  have  not  comfort  rea- 
dier by  thee  at  a  dying  hour,  and  when  thou  halt 
greatefl  need  ;  then  throw  thefe  directions  back  in  my 
face,  and  exclaim  as^ainll  m.e  as  a  deceiver  for  ever: 
except  God  Ihoald  leave  thee  uncomfortable  for  a 
little  feafon,  for  the  more  glorious  manifellatiou  of 
his  attributes,  and  thy  integrity  ;  and  fingle  thee  out; 
as  he  did  Jah^  for  an  example  of  conftancy  and  pati-- 
ence,  which  would  be  but  a  preparative  for  thy  ful. 
lert  comfort.  Certainly  God  will  not  forfake  this  his 
own  oroinanee,  but  will  be  found  of  thofe  that  thus' 
diligently  feek  him.  God  hath,  as  it  were,  appoint-- 
ed  to  meet  thee  in  this  way:  do  not  thou  fail  to  crive 
him  the  meeting,  and  thou  fhalt  find  by  experience- 
that  he  will  not  h'il. 

The   duty  which   I  prefs  upon  thee  io  earneflly,  I- 
Hiall  now  dcfcribe:  it  is  the  fct  and  folemn  ading   of* 
all  the  powers  of  the  foul  upon  ttiis  moil  pcrfedt  cb-- 
jed  '^rell  ;by  meditation. 
» 

I  will  a  little  more  fully  explain  the  meaning  of 
this  defcription,  that  fo  the  duty  may  lie  plain  before 
thee.  I.  The  general  title  that  I  give  this  duty  is 
(meditation)  :  not  asit  is  precifely  diftingulihed  from 
cogitation,  confideration,  and  contemplation  ;  but  as 
it  is  taker,  in  the  larger  and  ufual  fenfe  for  cogitation 
on  things  fpiritual,  and  fo  comprehending  confiderati- 
on  and  contemplation. 

That  meditation  is  a  duty  of  God's  ordaining,  not 
oiily  In  his  written  law,  but  alTo  in  nature  Itfelf,  I 
never  met  with   the  man  that  would  deny;  but  that- 


The  SaiTits  Ever  la/ting  Rejl,     321 

it  is  a  duty  conRantly  praftifcd,  .J  miifl,  with  forrow, 
deny:  it  is  in  word  confeflVd  to  be  a  duty  by  all,  bwt 
by  the  conlUnt  negkd\  denied  by  mod  :  and  (I  know 
not  by  what  fatal  fecurity  it  comes  to  pafs,  that)  men 
that  are  very  tender  confcienced  towards  moll  other 
duties,  yet  as  eafily  overllip  this,  as  if  they  knew  it 
not  to  be  a  duty  at  all;  they  that  are  prtfently  trou- 
bled if  ihcy  omit  a  fcrmon,  a  faft,  a  prayer  in  pub- 
lic or  private,  yet  were  never  troubled  that  they  have 
omitted  meditation,  perhaps  all  thtii  life-time  to  this 
very  day:  though  it  be  that  duty  by  which  all  other 
duties  arc  improved  and  by  which  the  foul  digefteth 
truths,  and  draweth  forth  their  llren^th  for  its  nou- 
rifhment.  Certainly,  I  think,  that  as  a  man  is  but 
half  an  hour  taking  into  his  ftomach  that  meat  which 
he  mull  have  feven  or  eight  hours  to  digeil  ;  {o  a 
man  may  take  into  his  underftanding  and  memory 
more  truth  in  one  hour,  than  he  is  able  well  to  digeft 
in  many.  Therefore  God  commanded  Jojbua,  That 
the  book  of  lh»  la^wjhould  not  depart  out  of  his  mouthy  Jut 
that  he  Jhould  meditate  therein  day  and  night  :  thai  he 
might  obferve  to  do  according  to  that  <whicb  is  niritten 
therein.  As  digeflion  is  the  turning  the  food  into 
chyle  and  blood,  and  fpirits  and  fleHi;  fo  meditation 
rightly  managed,  turneth  the  truths  received  and  re- 
membered into  warm  affeftion,  raifed  refolution,  and 
holy  converfation.  Therefore  what  good  thofe  men 
are  likely  to  get  by  fermons  or  providences,  who  are 
unaccuftomed  to  meditation,  you  may  eafdy  judge. 
And  why  {o  much  preaching  is  loll  among  us,  and  men 
can  run  from  fcrmon  to  fermon,  and  yet  have  fuch 
languifhing  ftarved  fouls,  I  know  no  truer  caufe  than 
their  negledl  of  meditation.  If  men  heard  one  hour 
and  meditated  fc;ven  ;  if  they  did  as  conllantly  digeft 
their  fermons  as  they  hear  them,  they  would  find  an- 
other kind  of  benefit  by  fermons,  than  the  ordinary 
ibrt  of  chrillian§  do. 

But 


322     71js  Saints  K^erlajltvg  Reft. 

But  becaufe  meditation  Is  a  general  word,  afld  it  I's 
not  all  meditation  that  I  here  intend,  I  fliall  therefore 
lay  down  the  difference  whereby  this  I  am  urging  13 
difcerned  from  all  other  forts  of  meditation.  And 
the  difference  is  taken  from  the  a6^,  and  ftom  the  ob- 
jea  of  it. 

Fit^m  the  a£l,  which  I  call  the  fet  and  folemn  ail- 
ing of  all  the  powers  of  the  foul. 

1.  1  call  it  the  ailing  of  them,  for  it  isaftion  that 
we  aie  dire<filng  yon  in  now,  and  not  difpofitions ;  y^t 
thefe  alio  are  ntceffarily  prefuppofed:  it  mu(l  be  a  fonl 
that  is  qualified  for  the  work,  by  the  fiipernatural 
grace  of  the  Spirit,  which  mud  be  able  to  perform  this 
heavenly  extrcife.  It  is  a  work  of  the  living,  and  not 
of  the  dead  :  it  is  a  work  of  all  other  the  mod  fpirltii- 
al,  and  therefore  not  to  ht  well  performed  by  a  heaft 
that  is  merely  carnal. 

2.  I  call  this  meditation  the  asking  of  the  powei^ 
of  the  foul,  meaning  thie  foul  as  rational.  It  is  tife 
work  of  the  foul;  for  bodily  exercife  doth  here  pro- 
tit  but  little.  The  foul  hath  its  labour  and  its  eafe,  ifs 
bufinefs  and  its  idlenefs,  as  well  as  the  body;  and  di- 
ligent Hudents  are  ufually  as  fenfible  of  the  labour  and 
wearinefs  of  their  fplrits,  as  they  are  of  that  of  the 
members  of  the  body.  This  adion  of  the  foul  is  it  £ 
perfudde  theeto. 

3.  I  call  it  the  afting  of  all  the  powers  of  the  fout,. 
^tn  difference  it  fiom  the  common  meditation  of  flu- 
dents,  which  is  ufually  the  mere  employment  of  the 
brain.  It  is  not  a  bare  thinking  th.at  I  mean,  norths 
mere  vSi  of  invention  or  memory,  but  a  bufinefs  of  a. 
iiigUer  and  more  cxQalent  nature. 

The 


The  Saints  Everlajlmg  Re/l,     323 

The  undevftanding  is  not  t!ie  whole  foul,  and 
therefore  cannot  do  the  whole  woik:  as  God  hath 
made  feveral  parts  in  man,  to  perform  their  feveral 
offices  for  his  nourifhment  and  lifv?  ;  fo  hath  he  or- 
dained the  faculties  of  the  foul  to  perform  their  feve- 
ral offices  for  his  fpiiitual  life:  fo  the  underftanding 
mufl  take  in  truths,  and  prepare  them  for  the  will, 
and  it  raull  receive  them,  and  commend  them  to  the 
affections  :  the  bell  digcllion  is  in  the  bottom  of  the 
ftomach  :  the  affedlipns  are  as  it  were  the  bottom  of 
the  foul,  and  therefore  the  bed  digeftion  is  there: 
while  truth  is  but  a  fpeculation  fwimming  in  the 
brain,  the  foul  hath  not  taken  fail  hold  of  it  ;  Corijl 
and  heaven  have  various  excellencies,  and  therefore 
God  hath  formed  tlic  foul  with  a  power  of  divers 
Avays  of  apprehending,  tliat  fo  we  might  be  capable  of 
enjoying  thofe  excellencies. 

What  good -could  all  the  glory  of  heaven  have  done 
1)3?  or  what  pleafure  fhould  wc  have  had  in  the  good- 
nefs  of  God  himfelf,  if  we  had  been  without  the  af- 
fections of  love  and  joy,  whereby  we  are  capable  of 
being  delighted  in  that  goodnefs  ?  So  alfo,  what 
ilrength  or  Iweetnefs  canft  thou  receive  by  thy  medita- 
tions on  eternity,  while  thou  dod  not  exercife  thofe 
affections  which  are  the  fenfes  of  the  foul,  by  which 
it  muil  receive  this  Ilrength  and  fweetnefs ! 

» 

This  is  it  that  hath  deceived  diriftians  in  iKn 
bufmefs  :  they  have  thought  meditation  is  nothing  but 
the  bare  thinking  on  truths,  and  the  rolling  of  them 
in  the  underllanding  and  memory,  when  every  fchool- 
boy  can  do  this. 

Therefore  this  is  the  great  taflv  in  hand,  and  this 
is  the  work  that  I  would  let  thee  on ;  to  get  thefe 
truths  from  thy  head  to  thy  heart:  that  all  the  fer- 
nions  which  thou  haft  heard  of  heaven,    and   all  the 

notions 


3  ^^4     -^'^^'^  Sjiuts  Everlajilng  RtfJK 

notions  thou  haft  conceived  of  this  reft,  may  be  turn* 
cd  into  the  blood  and  fpirit  of  afFcdion,  and  thou 
m.^.yll  feel  them  revive  thee,  and  vvarnri  thte  at  the 
heart,  and  mayft  fo  think  of  heaven,  as  heaven  fliould 
be  thought  on. 

If  thou  fhouldft  flndy  nothing  but  heaven  while 
thou  liveft,  and  ftiouldll  have  thy  thoughts  at  com- 
mand, to  turn  them  thither  on  every  )Ccafion,  and  yet 
(houldd  proceed  no  further  than  this;  this  were  not 
the  meditation  that  I  intended  :  as  \t  is  thy  whole 
foul  that  muft  pofl"efs  God  hereafter,  fomuft  the  whole 
in  a  lower  manner,  pofftfs  him  here.  I  have  (hewn 
you  in  the  beginning  of  this  treatife,  how  the  foul 
muft  f  njoy  the  Lord  in  glory,  to  wit,  by  knowing, 
by  loving,  by  joying  in  him  ;  why,  the  very  fame 
way  muft  thou  begin  thy  enjoyment  here. 

So  much  as  thy  underftanding  and  affeftlons  are 
fincerely  afled  upon  God,  fo  much  doft  thou  enjoy 
him  :  and  this  is  the  happy  work  of  this  meditation, 
So  that  you  fee  here  is  fomewhat  more  to  be  done, 
than  barely  to  remember  and  think  of  heaven:  as  run- 
ring,  and  fuch  like  labours,  do  not  only  ilir  a  hand  or 
foot,  but  ftrain  and  exercife  the  whole  body  ;  fo  doth 
meditation  the  whole  foul. 

As  the  whole  was  filled  with  fin  before,  fo  the 
whole  muft  be  filled  with  God  now  ;  as  St  Paul  faith 
of  knowledge,  i,nd  gifts,  and  fa-ith  to  remove  moun- 
tains, that  if  thou  haft  all  thefe  without  love,  thou 
art  but  as  a  founding  hrafsy  or  as  a  tinkling  cymbal^  fo 
I  may  fay  of  the  exercife  of  thefe,  if  in  this  work  of 
meditation,  thou  exercife  knowledge,  and  gifts,  and 
faith  of  miracles,  and  not  love  and  joy,  thou  doft  no- 
thing ;  if  thy  meditation  tends  to  fill  thy  notebook 
with  notions  and  ^ood  fayings  concerning  God,  and 
not  thy  heart  with  lor^Ings  after  him,  ?.nd  delight  in 

him, 


The  Saints  Everla/ling  Rcjl.     325 

him  for  aught  I  know  thy  book  is  as  much  a  chillllaii 
as  thou. 

I  call  this  meditation  fet  and  folemn,  to  diiTv.^rence 
it  from  tliat  which  is  occafional.  As  there  Is  prayer 
which  Is  folemn,  whtn  we  fct  ourfelves  wholly  to  the 
duty  ;  and  prayer  which  is  fudden  and  flioit,  com- 
monly called  ejaculations,  when  a  man  In  the  midit 
of  other  bufinefs.  doth  fend  up  fome  brief  reqi  ell  to 
God  :  fo  alfo  there  is  meditation  folemn,  when  we 
applv  ourfelves  only  to  that  work  ;  and  there  is  me- 
ditation wliich  Is  P.iort  and  curfory,  when  In  the  midft 
of  our  bufinefs  we  have  fome  good  thoughts  of  God 
in  our  minds.  And  as  folemn  prayer  Is  either  firfl-  fet, 
wlu n  a  chrlftlan  obfervlng  It  as  a  Handing  duty,  doth 
refolvedly  praftife  it  in  aconilant  courfe  ;  or  fecond- 
ly,  occafional,  when  fome  unufual  occafion  doth  put 
■us  upoH  It  at  a  feafon  extraordinary  :  fo  alfo  medita- 
tion. 

Now,  though  I  would  perfuade  you  to  that  mt-di- 
"tatlon  which  Is  mixed  with  your  common  laboiirs, 
and  to  that  which  fpecial  occafions  dired  you  to  ;  yet 
thefe  are  not  tlic  main  things  which  I  here  intend  : 
but  that  you  would  make  it  a  conllaiit  ftiinding  duty, 
as  you  do  hearing,  and  praying,  and  reading  the 
fcripture,  and  tliat  you  would  fo'emnly  fet  yourfelves 
about  it,  and  make  it  for  that  time  your  whole  work, 
and  intermix  other  matters  no  more  with  it,  than  you 
would  do  with  praying,  or  other  duties.  Thus  you 
fee,  what  kind  of  meditation  It  Is  that  we  fpeak  of, 
i/z.  the  fet  and  folemn  a6llng  of  all  the  powers  of  the 
foul. 

The  fecond  part  of  the  difference  Is  drawn  from  its 

objedl,  which  is  reft,  or  the  mod  blcffed  cftate  of  man 

in  his  cverlafting  enjoyment  of  God  in  heaven.     Me- 

dilatloii  hath  a  large  field  to  walk  ui,  and  hath  as  ma- 

E  e  ny 


326    The  Saints  Everlajiwg  Reji. 

ny  objc'fts  to  work  upon,  as  there  are  matters,  an^ 
lines,  and  words  In  tl.e  fciiptures,  as  there  are  known 
cieauires  in  the  whole  crearlon,  and  as  there  are  par- 
ticular dilcerniible  pafTages  of  Providence  tn  the  go* 
vernnient  of  perfons  and  adlions  through  the  world: 
but  the  meditation  that  1  now  diit6\  you  in,  is  only 
pf  the  end  of  all  thefe,  and  of  thefe  as  they  refer  ttt 
that  end  ;  it  is  not  a  walk  from  mountains  to  vallies, 
iVom  fca  to  land,  from  kingdom  to  kingdom,  fiom 
planet  to  planet  ;  but  it  is  a  walk  from  mountains  and 
vallies  to  the  holy  rnount  Sion  ;  fiom  fta  and  land  to 
thv  laiid  of  the  living  ;  from  the  kingdoms  of  thi» 
world,  to  the  kingdom  of  faints  ;  from  earth  to  hea- 
ven ;  from  time  to  eteinity.  It  is  a  walking  upon  the 
fun,  and  moon,  and  ftars  ;  it  is  2  walk  in  the  garden  and 
paradife  of  God.  It  may  feem  far  off;  but  fpirits  ate 
quick  ;  whether  fn  the  body,  or  out  of  the  body,  their 
motion  is  fwift ;  they  are  not  fo  heavy  or  dull  as  thefe 
caiihly  lumps,  nor  fo  flow  of  motion  as  thefe  clods  of 
ijtfh.  1  v.ould  not  have  you  cafl  off  your  other  me- 
ditations: but  furcly  as  heaven  hath  the  pre-eminence 
in  perfedion,  fo  (hould  it  have  the  pre-eminence  alfo 
in  oui  meditation  :  that  which  will  make  us  moll  hap- 
py wrien  we  poflcfs  it,  will  make  us  mod  joyful  when 
we  meditate  upon  it  ;  cfpecially  when  that  meditation 
is  a  degree  of  pofTcfnon,  if  It  be  fuch  affcding  medi- 
tation as  1  here  defcribe. 

You  need  not  here  be  troubled  with  fear,  left  flu- 
dyii.g  fo  much  on  thefe  high  matters  fhiould  m?kf  y^u 
mad.  If  I  fet  you  to  n.editate  as  much  on  fin  and 
wiath,  and  to  (ludy  nothing  but  judgment  and  dam- 
nation, tlien  you  mij^ht  fear  fuch  an  iflue  :  but  it  is 
liCdvcn,  and  not  hell,  that  I  would  perfuade  you  to 
walk  in  ;  it  is  joy*  and  not  forrow,  that  I  perfuade 
\'ui  to  exercifc.  I  would  urge  you  to  look  on  no  de- 
formed ohjc6l,  but  only  upon  the  tavifhing  glory  of 
fdinu,  anu  the  unfpeakable  excdleutieji  of  the  God 

cf 


The  Samts  EverlafUpg  Refr,     317 

'of  glory,  and  tlic  heams  that  fircnm  froni  t!;C  face  of 
his  Son.  Are  thtlc  fad  r.liou{:^insr  ?  Will  it  diiiraft  a 
man  to  think  of  his  happinef*?  Will  it  diflnid  x.\\g 
TriTO'rable  to  think  of  nuTcy  ?  Ox  tne  captive  or 
prifoncr,  tof^rtOre  deliverance  ?  Neiihcvdo  I  peri'iade 
your  thoughts  to  matters  of  s;reat  difEciihy,  or  to 
itudy  knotted  corjtroverfies  of  licavtn,  or  to  leircii 
out  things  hcycnd  your  reach,  l^  you  fliould  thu-j 
fct  your  wit  upon  the  tenters,  you  mi^^ht  quickly  be 
diftra(^ed  indeed  :  but  it  is  your  a-fle(R;ions  more  thaii 
y<  ur  inventions  that  mull  be  ufed  in  this  heavenly  em- 
ployment we  fpeak  of.  They  are  truths  wliich  are 
commonly  known,  which  your  fouls  mull  draw  forth 
and  feed  upon.  ']"he  refurred\ion  of  the  body,  and 
the  life  everlafting,  are  articles  of  your  cretd,  and 
not  nicer  controvctfies.  Methinks  it  Jhould  be  liker 
to  make  a  man  mad,  to  think  of  hvin;T  In  a  world 
of  wo,  to  tliink  of  abiding  among  the  rage  of  wick- 
ed men,  than  to  think  of  living  with  Ciuifl  in  blifs  ; 
methinks,  if  we  be  not  mad  already,  it  fhould  foon- 
er  dillrnft  us,  to  hear' the  tcmpefls  and  roaring  waves, 
to  fee  the  billows,  and  rocks,  and  fands,  and  gulphs, 
than  to  think  of  arriving  fafe  a:  reft.      But  iv'ijdom  ie 

jujl'tfied  of  all  her  children.  Knowledge  hath  no  ene- 
my but  the  ignorant.  This  heavenly  courfe  was  ne- 
ver fpoke  againft  by  any,  but  thofe  that  never  either 
knew  it,  or  ufed  it.      I  more  fear  the  negletft  of  men 

tthat  do   approve   It.      Truth   lofeth    much   mors    by 

Joofc  friends,  than  by  the  fharpeft  enemies. 


CHAP. 


3^8    The  Saints  E^erlajing  Rtjl. 

CHAP.     VI. 

The  fiiieft  Tune  and  Place  for  this  Content 
plat  ion  ^  and  the  Preparation  of  the  Heart 

unto  it, 

THITS  I  have  opcnf  (1  to  you  the  nature  of  this  du- 
tr  ;  I  piDctcd  to  diiYtt  you  in  the  work  ;  where 
I  niall.^r/?,  /htw  you  how  you  mufl  fet  upon  it  \  fe- 
cmdly,  how  you  mud  beliave  in  it  ;  and  thinlly  how 
you  (hail  fhut  it  up.  I  advife  thee,  i.  Somewhat 
concerning  the  tiine,  2.  Somewhat  conceining  tiie 
p. ace.-  And  3.  Somewhai  concerning  the  fraoic  of 
thy  fpirit. 

And  I,  for  the  time,  I  advife  thee  that  as  much  as 
may  be,  it  be  fet  and  conliant.  Proportion  out  fuch 
a  part  of  thy  time  to  the  work. 

Stick  not  at  their  fcruple,  who  queftion  the  flating 
of  times  as  fuperftitious ;  \i  thou  fuit  out  thy  time  to 
the  advantage  of  the  work,  and  place  no  reli^on  in 
the  time  itfclf ;  thou  needed  not  to  fear  led  this  be 
luperftition.  As  a  workman  in  his  fhop  will  have  a 
fet  place  for  every  one  of  his  tools,  or  elfe  when  he 
fhould  ufe  it,  it  may  be  to  feek  ;  fo  a  chrifUan  (houLd 
have  a  fet  time  for  every  ordinary  duty,  or  elfe  when 
he  fliould  praftife  it,  it  is  ten  to  one  but  he  will  be 
put  by  it.  Stated  time  is  a  hedge  to  duty,  and  de- 
fends it  againft  many  temptations  to  omlffion.  God 
hath  dated  none  but  the  Lord's  day  himfclf  ;  but  he 
hath  left  u  to  be  dated  by  ouifelves,  according  to 
every  man's  condition  and  occafions,  led  othcrwife 
Lis  law  fliould  have  been  a  burden  or  a  fnare.  Yet 
Inth  he  left  us  general  rules,  which  by  the  ufe  of  rea- 
fon,  and  chridian  prudence,  may  lielp  us  to  deiermlue 
the  fitted  times. 

It 


The  Saints  EverlaJIlng  Rcji.    329- 

It  is  as  ridiculous  a  quetlion  of  them  tliat  r.fl-:  U3, 
"Where  fcripture  commands  to  pray  fo  oft,  or  at  fucli 
hours?  as  if  they  adced,  Where  the  fcripture  com- 
mands that  the  church  (land  in  fuch  a  place  ?  or  the 
pulpit  in  fach  a  place?  or  my  feat  in  fach  a  place? 
or  where  it  commands  a  man  to  read  the  fcriptures 
with  a  pair  of  fpe6^acles  ? 

Moll  that  I  have  known  to  argue  againft  a  flated 
time,  have  at  lart  grown  carelefs  of  the  duty  itfelf, 
and  fhowed  more  diilike  againd  the  work  than  the 
time.  If  God  gave  me  fo  much  money  or  wealth, 
and  tell  me  not  in  fcripture  how  much  fuch  a  poor 
man  mud  have,  Ror  how  much  my  family,  nor  how- 
much  in  clothes,  and  how  much  in  expences  :  is  it 
not  lawful,  yea,  and  nccefiary.  that  I  make  the  divi- 
fion  myfelf,  and  allow  to  each  the  due  portion  ?  So 
if  God  doth  bellow  on  me  a  day  or  week  of  time, 
and  give  me  fuch  and  fuch  work  to  do  in  this  time, 
and  tell  me  not  how  much  I  fhall  allot  to  each  work; 
certainly  1  muft  make  the  diviGon  myfelf,  ard  pro- 
portion it  wifely  and  cars^fully  too.  Though  God 
hath  not  told  you  at  what  hour  you  fiiall  rife  in  the 
morning,  or  at  what  hours  you  fhall  cat  and  drink  ; 
yet  your  own  reafon,  and  •  experience  will  tell  you, 
that  ordinarily  you  fliould  obferve  a  ftated  time. 
Neither  let  the  fear  of  cuftomarinefs  and  formality 
deter  you  from.  this.  This  argument  hath  brought 
the  Lord's  fupper  from  once  a  week  to  once  a  quar- 
ter, or  once  a  year;  and  it  hath  brought  family  duties 
with  too  many  of  late,  from  twice  a  day  to  once  a 
week,  or  once  a  month. 

I  advife  thee  therefore,  if' well  thou  may fl,  to  al- 
low this  duty  a  ftated  time,  and  be  ascondant  in  it, 
as  in  hearing  and  praying  :  yet  be  cautious  in  undcr- 
Randing  this.  I  know  this  will  not  prove  every  man's 
,duty  :  forae  have  not  themfdvefr  and  their  time  at  com- 
E  e  2  ,X^^^>^3 


2,J0    The  Saints  Everhijllng  Reft. 

mand,  and  therefore  cannot  fct  their  hours  ;  fuch  arr, 
liioil  fervants,  and  many  children  of  poor  parents;  and 
jiiany  arc  fo  poor,  that  tl^e  nectfTity  of  their  famihcs 
v'ill  deny  them  this  freedom.  I  do  not  think  it  the 
duty  of  fuch  to  leave  their  labours  for  this  work  juft 
•at  certain  fct  times,  no  nor  for  prayer.  Of  two  du- 
ties we  mnfl  choofe  the  great-er,  though  of  two  fins 
we  mull  choofe  neither.  1  tluRk  fuch  perfons  were 
Ivell  to  be  watchful,  to  redeem  time  as  much  as  they 
oan,  and  take  their  vacant  opportunities  as  they  fall, 
and  efpecialjy  to  join  meditation  and  prayer,  as  much 
:'>3  they  can,  with  the  labours  of  their  callings,  '1  here 
is  no  fuch  enmity  between  labouring,  and  meditating 
or  praying  in  the  fpirit,  but  that  both  may  be  done 
together ;  yet  I  fay,  as  Paul  in  another  cafe,  if  thou 
r.an/l  be  free^  vfe  it  rather.  Thofe  th.at  have  more 
fpare  time,  I  ftlll  advife,  that  they  keep  this  duty  to 
a  ftated  time.  And  indeed  it  were  no  ill  hufbandry, 
nor  point  of  folly,  if  we  did  fo  by  all  other  duties  ; 
if  we  confidered  the  ordinary  works  of  the  day,  and 
juited  cut  a  Ht  fcafon  and  proportion  of  time  to  every 
work,  and  fixed  this  in  our  memory  and  refolution, 
or  wrote  it  in  a  table,  and  kept  it  in  our  clofcts,  and 
never  broke  it  but  upon  uncxptdcd  and  extraordinary 
<.  aufes :  if  every  work  of  the  day  had  thus  its  appoint- 
ed time,  we  fhould  be  better  fkillcd,  both  in  redeem- 
ing time,  and  performing  duty. 

2.  I  advife  thee  alfo,  concerning  thy  time  for  this 
duty,  that  as  it  be  Hated,  fo  it  be  frequent  :  jull  how 
oft  it  fhould  be,  I  cannot  determine,  becaufe  men's 
conditions  may  vary  It  :  but  in  general,  that  it  be 
frequent,  the  fcripture  requlreth,  when  it  mentioneth 
meditating  continually,  and  day  and  night.  Circum- 
llancts  of  our  condition,  may  much  vaiy  the  circum- 
flancc  of  our  duties.  It  may  be  one  man's  duty  to 
iiear  or  pray  oftener  than  another,  and  fo  it  may  be 
iii  lhi£  of  meditation  :  but  for  thofe  that  can  conve- 


The  Saints  Evertajilng  Rdjl.     33! 

T^iently  omit  other  buiinefs,  I  advlfe,  that  it  be  once  a 
day  at  leall.  Though  fcripture  tells  ns  not  how  oft  in 
a  day  we  fhould  eat  or  drink  ;  yet  prudence  and  expe- 
rience will  dircti  us  twice  or  thrice  a  day. 

Thofe  that  think  they  fhould  not  tie  themfelves  to 
order  and  number  of  duties  ;  but  fhould  then  only  me- 
ditate or  pray,  when  they  find  the  Spirit  provoking- 
them  to  it,  go  upon  uncertain  and  unchrillian  grounds. 
I  am  fure,  the  fcripture  provokes  us  to  frequency,  and 
our  neceffity  fecondtth  the  voice  of  fcripture  ;  and  if 
through  my  own  neglect,  or  refilling  the  Spirit,  I  do 
not  find  it  fo  excite  me,  I  dare  not  therefore  difobey 
the  fcripture,  nor  neglect  the  ncctflitics  of  my  own 
foul.  1  fnould  fufpccli't  that  fpirit  which  would  turn 
my  foul  from  conilaucy  in  duty  :  if  the  Spirit  in  fcrip- 
ture bid  me  meditate  or  pray,  I  dare  not  forbear  it, 
becaufc  I  find  net  the  fpirit  within  me  to  fecond  the 
command  :  if  I  find  not  incitation  to  duty  before,  yet 
I  may  find  afudance  while  I  wait  in  performance.  I 
am  afraid  of  laying  ray  corruptions  upon  the  Spirit, 
or  blaming  the  want  of  the  Spirit's  affiftance,  when 
I  iTiould  blr.me  llie  backwardnefs  ef  my  own  heart  ;, 
nor  dare  I  make  one  corruption  a  plea  for  another  ; 
nor  urge  the  inward  rebdlion  of  my  nature,  as  a  rea- 
fon  for  t lie  outward  difobediencc  of  my  hfe  ;  and  for 
the  healing  of  my  r.atnre's  backwaidnefs,  I  mere  ex-. 
•^,ttX  that  the  Spirit  of  Ciiriil  fliould  do  it  in  a  way  of, 
duty,  than  in  away  of  difobedience  and -negltc!l  of 
duty..  Men  that  fall  on  diuy  according  to  the  frame 
of  their  fpirit  only,  are  like  our  ignorant  vulgar,  who 
think  their  appetite-  fliould  be  the  only  rule  of  their 
■eating  ;  when  a  wife  man  judgeth  by  reafon  and  ex- 
perience, left  when  his  appetite  is  deprave-d,  he  fnould 
cither  furfeit  or  famifh.  Gur  appetite  is  no  fure  rule 
/or  our  times  of  duty;  but  the  word  of  God  in  gene-, 
•r^l,  jand  our  fpiritual  reafon,  experience,  necefiity,  and 
cuavenience  in  particular,  may  truly  direft  us. 

Three 


332     The  Saints  'E'uenqJltTig  f\ejl. 

Three  reafons  efpecir.lly  fiioi)ld  perfiiade  thee  tji' 
frequency  in  this  meditation  on  heaven. 

I.  Becaiife  feldom  converfing  with  him  will  breed' 
a  ftrangenefs  betwixt  thy  foul  and  God  :  frequent  fo- 
ciety  breeds  familiarity,  and  familiarity  increafetli 
love  and  delight,  and  maketh  us  bold  and  confident  in' 
our  addrefTcs.  This  is  the  main  end  of  this  duty,  that' 
thou  mayd  have  acquaintance  and  fellowfhip  with 
God  therein;  therefore  if  thou  come  but  feldom  to 
it,  thoi:  wilt  keep  thyfflf  a  itranger  ftiil,  and  fo  mifs' 
of  the  end  of  the  work. 

r.   S eld omnefs  will  make  thee  unilcllful  in  the  work, 
and  (Iratige   to  the   duty,  as  well   as   to  God.      Ho\¥ 
clumfily  dj  men  fct  their  hands  to  a  work   they  are 
feldom  employed  in  !    whereas,  frequency  will  habitu* 
ate  thy  heart  to  the  work,  and  thou  wilt  better  know 
the    way    in    which  thou  daily    walked,  yea,  and    it-. 
will  be  more  eafy   and    dtlightful  alio:   the  hill  which 
made  thee  pant  and  blow  at   the  firft  going  up,  thou  ■ 
mayft  run  up  eafily  when  thou  art   once  accuftomed 
to  it. 

3.  And  lafily.  Thou  wilt  Icrftf  that  heat  and  life  by 
hnw  inicrmiffions,  which  with  much  ado  thou  didft 
obtain  in  duty.  If  thou  eat  but  a  meal  in  two  or 
three  days,  ihou  wilt  lofc  thy  ftrength  as  fa  ft  as  thou 
gttteft  it  :  if  inholy  meditation  thou  get  near  toChrift, 
and  warm  thy  heart  with  the  fire  of  love,  if  thou  then 
turn  awav,  and  come  but  feldom,  thou  wilt  foon  re- 
,  turn  to  thy  former-eoldncfs. 

It  is  true,  the  intermixed  ufe  of   ©ther   duties  may- 
do  much  to   the  keeping  thy   heart   above,  efpecially 
fecrct    prayer  :   but    meditation    is   the  life'  of    moft 
...otht-r  duties  j  and  the  view  of  heaven  is  the  life  of  me- 

txiI.ta.tIoi;i,  •  =  ■       '""',"' 

3.  Concerning 


The  Saints  Everlajiing  Reft,     333 

.3.  Concerning  the  ti'nne  of  this  duty,  I  advlfe  thce^ 
that  thou  choofe  the  moll  fcafonable  time.  All  things 
arc  b. au'jfnl  in  their  feafon.  Unfealonablenefs  may 
loic  thee  t!t^  fruit  of  thy  labour  ;  it  may  raife  dilhnb- 
ances  and  diOiculties  in  the  work  ;  yea,  it  may  tura 
a  d-ify  to  iiii ;  when  the  feafonablenefs  of  a  duty  doth 
make  it  eafy,  doth  remove  impediments,  doth  embold- 
en us  to  the  undertaking,  and  ripen  its  fruit. 

The  fcafons  of  this  duty  are  either,  F'lrft^  ordinary  ;. 
or,  Secondiyy  extraordinary. 

F'lrflt  The  ordinary  feafon  of  your  daily  perform- 
ance cannot  be  particularly  determini.d,  otheruife 
God  would  have  determined  it  in  bis  word.  Mtn's 
conditions  of  employmenc,  and  freedom,  andboiiiiy 
temper,  are  fo  various,  that  the  fame  may  be  a  ka- 
fonable  hour  to  one,  which  may  be  unfeafonablc  to 
another.  If  thou  be  a  fervant,  or  an  hard  labourer, 
that  thou  haft  not  thy  time  at  command,  ih'ui  muft 
take  that  ftafon  which  thy  bufinefs  will  bell  afford  : 
either  as  thou  fitteft  in  the  (hop  at  thy  work,  or  as 
thou  travelleft  on  the  way,  or  as  thou  lied  waking  in 
the  night.  Every  man  bell  knows  his  own  time, 
even  v^'hen  he  hath  the  leaft  to  hinder  him  in  the 
world  :  but  for  thofe  whofe  neceffities  tie  them  not 
fo  clofe,  but  that  they  may  choofe  what  time  of  the 
day  they  will,  my  advice  to  fuch  is,  that  they  care- 
fully obfervethe  temper  of  their  body  and  mind,  and 
mark  when  they  find  their  fpirits  moft  adive  and  fit 
for  contemplation,  and  pitch  upon  that  as  the  ftated 
time.  Some  men  are  freed  for  duties  when  they  arc 
fafting,  and  fome  are  then  unfitteft  of  all.  Every- 
man is  the  meeteft  judge  for  himfelf.  The  time  I 
have  always  found  fitted  for  myfelf,  is,  the  evening, 
from  fun-fetting  to  the  twilight  ;  and  fometime  in  the 
ni^ht  when  it  is  warm  and  clear. 


33  j-    The  Saints  EverJrJllng  Reft, 

The  Lord's  day  is  a  time  exccedir;^  feafonable  for 
tills  cxcrciTe.  When  fhrnild  we  more  feafonahly  con- 
template on  reft,  than  on  that  day  which  doth  typify 
it  to  us  ?  Nekher  do  I  tliink  that  typifying  nfe  is 
ceafed,  becaiife  the  antitype  is  not  fully  come.  Howi 
eve'-  it  being  a  day  appropnatcd  to  wovfhip  and  fpi- 
ritnal  duties,  we  (hoiild  never  exclude  this  duty., 
whic'a  is  fo  eminently  fpirltual.  I  think  verily  xhii 
is  the  chief  work  of  a  chvillian  fabbath,  and  moft 
agreeable  to  the  intent  of  its  poHtive  intlitution. 
What  fitter  time  to  convcrfe  with  our  Lord,  than  orf 
tliat  day  which  he  hath  appmptiatcd  to  fuch  employ- 
ment, and  therefore  called  it  l!ie  Lord's  day  ?  What 
fitter  day  to  afcend  to  heaven,  than  that  on  whichf 
our  Lord  did  arife  from  earth,  and  fully  triumph 
over  death  and  hell,  and  take  pofTefiicn  of  heaved 
before  us  ? 

Two  foTts  of  chrjftians  I  would  entreat  to  take  no* 
lice  of  this  efpecially. 

1.  Thofe  that  fpend  the  Lord's-day  only  in  pub- 
lic worthip  ;  either  throuirh  the  reglecTt  of  medita- 
tion, or  tlfe  by  their  over-much  exercife  of  the  pub- 
h'c,  allowing  no  time  to  private  duty  :  though  thertf 
be  few  that  offend  \n  this  kind  ;  yet  fonrse  there  are, 
and  a  hurtful  miflake  to  the  foul  it  is.  They  will 
grow  but  in  gifts,  if  they  exercife  but  their  gifts  in,' 
outward  performances. 

2.  Thofc  that  have  time  on  the  X>ord's  day  for 
Jdlcnefs  and  vain  difcourfe,  and  find  the  day  longer 
than  they  know  how  well  to  fpend:  were  thefe  but 
acquainted  with  this  duty  of  contemplation,  they 
would  need  no  oth<fr  recreation  ;  they  would  thirflt 
the  longefc  day  (hort  enough,  and  'be  forry  that  the 
fiight  In'^  flicrti:ned  their  pL'afure. 


The  Saints  Everlajlirtg  Rtji,     335 

Secondly  J  For  the  extraordinary  perfonrjance,  thefc 
following  are  feafonable  tinncs. 

1.  When  God  doth  extraordinarily  revive  thy  fpi- 
rit.  When  God  liath  enkindled  thy  fpirif  with  fire 
from  above,  it  is  that  it  may  mount  aloft  more  free- 
ly It  is  a  choice  part  of  achrifiiau's  fl<ill,  to  obferre 
the  temper  of  his  own  fpiiit,  and  to  obferve  the  ga-ka 
of  grace,  and  how  the  Spirit  of  Chriil  doth  move  up- 
on his.  If'itbout  Chr'ijl  m.e  can  do  nothing  :  therefore 
let  us  be  doing  when  he  is  doing  ;  and  be  fure  not  to 
be  out  of  the  way,  nor  aflcep  whtn  he  comes.  A  lit- 
tle l.'bour  will  fet  thy  heart  a  going  at  fuch  a  tim.e, 
when  another  time  thou  may  ft  take  pains  to  little  pur- 
p.ofe. 

2.  When  thou  art  caft  into  troubles  of  mind  through 
fufFcrings,  or  fear,  or  care,  or  temptations,  then  it  isj 
feafonable  to  addrefs  thyftlf  to  this  duty.  Vvhen 
ihould  we  take  our  cordials,  but  in  our  times  of  faint- 
;ni.r  ?  When  is  it  more  feafonable  to  walk  to  heaven, 
than  when  we  know  not  in  what  corner  on  earth  to 
live  with  comfort  .'*  Or  when  fh  mid  our  thouolits  con- 
verfe  above,  but  vvhen  they  have  nothing  but  grief  to 
converfe  with  below  ? 

Another  fit  fcaforr  for  this  heavenly  duty,  is  when 
the  meffengers  of  God  fummon  us  to  die  ;  when  eitlur 
our  grey  hairs,  or  our  languiftiing  bodies,  or  fome 
fuch  fore-runners  of  death,  tell  us  that  our  change  can- 
not be  far  off ;  when  fhould  we  more  frequently  fweet- 
cn  our  fouls  with  the  believing  thoughts  of  another 
life,  than  when  we  find  tliat  this  is  almoft  ended,  and 
when  fle(K  is  raifing  fears  and  terrors  ?  Surely  no  men 
have  greater  need  {>f  fupporting  joys  than  dying  men; 
and  thofe  joys  mull  be  fetched  from  our  eternal  joy. 

It 


336    The  Saints  Everfajling  Re/l, 

It  now  fi>llows  that  1  fpeak  a  word  of  the  fittcft 
place.  Th()u.^h  God  is  every  where  to  be  found;  yet 
fome  places  are  more  convenient  than  others. 

I.  As  this  is  a  private  and  fpirltual  duty,  fo  It  is 
inoft  convenient  that  t!iou  retire  to  fome  private  place  ; 
our  fpirits  have  need  of  every  htlp,  and  to  be  freed 
from  every  hinderance  in  the  work.  For  occafional 
meditation  I  give  thee  not  this  advice  ;  but  for  fet  and 
folemn  duty  I  advife,  that  thou  withdraw  thylclf 
from  all  fociety,  that  thou  may  ft  awhile  enjoy  the  fo- 
ciety  of  Chrill. 

And  as  1  advife  thee  to  a  place  of  rctiredncfs ;  fo 
alfo  that  tliou  obfervc  more  parlicularly,  what  place 
or  poftuie  bcft  agreeth  with  tliy  ipirit  ;  whether  with- 
in door,  or  without  ,  whether  fitting  ilill,  or  walking. 
1  believe  y/a/7c's  example  in  this  alfo,  will  direct  us  to 
the  place  and  pofture  which  will  beft  fuit  with  moft, 
as  it  doth  with  me,  vi%.  His  ivalk'in^  forth  to  medi' 
fate  in  ihejields  at  the  even  tide.  And  Chnfl's  own  ex- 
ample gives  us  the  like  dircd^ion.  Chrift  was  ufed  to 
a  folitary  garden  ;  and  though  he  took  his  difciples 
thither  with  him,  yet  did  he  feparate  himfelf  from 
them  for  more  fecret  devotions. 

I  am  next  to  advife  thee  fomewhat  concerning  the 
preparations  of  thy  heart.  The  fuccefs  of  the  work 
doth  much  depend  on  the  frame  of  thy  lieart.  Whea 
man's  heart  hath  nothing  in  it  that  might  grieve  the 
•Spirit,  then  was  it  the  delightful  habitation  of  his 
Maker.  God  did  not  quit  his  refidencc  there,  till 
man  did  repel  him  by  unwoithy  provocations.  There 
grew  no  (Irangencfs,  till  the  heart  grew  finful,  and 
too  loathfome  a  diir.geon  for  God  to  delight  in.  And 
were  tliis  foul  rcltoied  to  Its  former  innocency,  God 
w'ould  quickly  return  to  his  former  habitation  :  yea, 
fofar  as  it  is  renewed  and  repaired  by  the  Spirit,  the 

Lord 


The  Saints  Evcrlajlihg  JlcJI.    337 

XiOrd  will  yet  acknowledge  it  his  own,  and  6VjW,/?  will 
iftanif<;ft  himfelf  unto  it,  and  the  Spirit  vvilJ  take  it  for 
its  temple  and  rcfidf  nee.  So  far  as  the  Itml  ia  qnalilicd. 
for  conveiiing  with  God,  fo  far  it  doth  aftuahy  en- 
joy him.  Therefore  keep  thy  heart  wilb  alt  ai/i^encc, 
for  from  thence  are  the  ijfu.s  of  ife. 

More  particularly,  when  thou  fctteft  on  this  duty, 
I.  Get  tliy  heart  as  clear  from  the  woijd  as  thou 
canfl ;  wholly  lay  by  the  thoughts  of  thy  bufintfs,  of 
thy  troubles,  of  thy  enjoyments,  and  of  every  tiling 
that  may  take  up  any  room  in  thy  foul.  Get  thy 
foul  as  empty  as  pofTibly  tliou  canft,  that  fo  it  may 
be  the  more  capable  of  being  filled  with  God.  Jt  is 
a  work  thut-  will  require  all  the  powers  of  thy  foul,  it 
they  were  a  tfioufand  times  more  capacious  and  active 
than  th;fy  are,  and  tlicrtf.^re  you  have  need  to  lay  byv 
all  othei  thoughts  and  aii"*-<^ions  wi»ile  you  are  bufied 
here. 

2.  Be  fare  thou  fet  upon  lhi:>  work  with  thegJCcTt- 
eil  ferioufnefs  that  pofiibly  thou  cauil:.  Cullomarincfs 
here  is  a  killing  fin.  There  is  .no  trifling  in  }ioly 
things;  God  will  be  fanililified  of  all  that  draw  near 
him.  Thefe  fpiritual  duties  are  the  mofl  dangerous, 
if  we  mifcarry  in  tl^m,  of  all.  The  more  they  ad- 
vance the  foul,  being  wtll  ufed,  the  more  tliey  deltroy 
it,  being  ufed  unfaithfully  ;  as  the  bell  meats  corrupt- 
ed are  the  woril. 

To  help  thee  therefore  to  be  ferious  when  thou  fel- 
ted o-n  this  work  ;  Firfl,  labour  t^o  have  the  deeped 
apprehenfions  of  the  prefence  of  God,  and  of  the  in- 
comprehenfible  gieatnefs  of  th^  majeliy  wljich  rhou 
approached.  Think  with  what  reverence  thou  Hiouldft 
approach  thy  Maker:  think  thou  art  add  efiing  thy- 
felf  to  hira,  that  ina<!e  the  ivorlds  <wUh  the  ivord  cf 
F  f  hh 


338    The  Saints  Everlajling  Reft. 

his  mouth ;  that  tipholds  the  earth  as  In  the  palm  of  hit 
hand;  that  keeps  the  fun^  and  mocn,  and  heaven  in  their 
courfes  ;  that  bounds  the  rngivg  Jea  iviih  the  fands^  and 
faith^  Hitherto  go,  and  no  further  :  thou  art  going  to 
converfe  with  him.  before  whom  the  earth  will  quake, 
and  devils  tremble  ;  before  whofe  bar  thou  rauft  (hort-. 
}y  {land,  and  all  the  world  with  thee,  to  receive  their 
doom.  O  think,  I  fhall  then  have  lively  apprehen- 
fione  of  his  majefty  :  my  drowfy  fpirits  will  then  be 
wakened  :  why  fliould  I  not  now  be  roufed  with  the 
fcnfe  of  his  greatneff,  and  the  dread  of  his  name  poflefa 
my  foul. 

Secondlyy  Labour  to  apprehend  the  greatnefs  of  the 
"work  which  thou  attempteft,  and  to  be  deeply  fenfible 
both  of  its  weight  and  height.  If  thou  wert  pleading 
for  thy  life  at  the  bar  of  a  judge,  thou  wouldll  be  fe- 
rious ;  and  yet  that  were  but  a  trifle  to  this:  if  thou 
were  engaged  In  fiich  a  work  as  David  was  againft 
Go/iah>  whereon  the  kingdom's  deliverance  depended, 
in  itfelf  confidcred,  it  were  nothing  to  this.  Suppofe 
thou  wert  going  to  fuch  a  wrellling  as  Jacob's  ;  fup- 
pofe  thou  wert  going  to  fee  the  fight  which  the  three 
difciples  faw.  in  the  mount  ;  how  Terioufly,  how  leve- 
rently  woiildil  thou  both  approach  and  behold!  If 
feme  anp;el  from  heaven  Ihould  but  appoint  to  meet 
thee,  at  the  time  and  place  of  thy  contemplation,  how 
ripprehenfively  wouldll  thou  go  to  meet  him  !  Why, 
confiderthen  with  what  a  fpirit  thou  fhouldil  meet  the 
Lord,  and  with  what  ferioufnefs  and  dread  thou 
fhouldft -daily  converfe  with  him. 

Confider  alfo  the  bleflcd  iffue  of  the  work.  If  It 
fucceed,  it  will  be  an  admiifion  of  thee  into  the  pre- 
fence  of  God,  a  beginning  of  thy  eternal  glory  on 
earth  ;  a  means  to  make  thee  live  above  the  rate  of 
other  men,    and  admit  thee  into  the  next  room  to  the 

^nscls 


i 


The  Saints  Everlajiing  Rejl,    339 

angels  themfelves  ;  a  means  to  make  thee  live  and  die 
both  joyfully  and  blefieJly  :  fo  that  the  prize  being 
io  great,  thy  preparation  (hould  be  anfwerable. 

CHAP.     VII. 

What  AffeBlom  mujt  be  a6led^  and  by  ishat 
ConfideraiiQns  and  ObjeHs^  and  in  what 
Order. 

^^\^  O  draw  the  heart  nearer  the  work ;  the  next 
\  thing  to  be  difcovered,  is,  What  powers  of  the 
foul  mud  here  be  aded,  what  affedlions  excited,  what 
confidcrations  are  necefiary  thereto,  and  in  what  or- 
iler  we  mull  proceed. 

I.  You  muft  go  to  the  memory,  wliich  is  the  ma- 
gazine or  treafury  of  the  underftanding,  thence  you 
muft  take  forth  thofe  heavenly  dodlrines  which  you 
intend  to  make  the  fubjeft  of  your  meditation.  For 
the  prefent  purpofe,  you  may  look  over  any  promife 
of  eternal  life  in  the  gofptl  ;  any  defcription  of  the 
glory  of  the  faints,  of  the  rcfurredlion  of  the  body, 
and  life  everlafting  ;  fome  one  fetitence  concerning 
thofe  eternal  joys,  may  afford  you  mvittcr  for  many 
years  meditation  ;  yet  it  will  be  a  point  of  wifdoni 
here,  to  have  always  a  (lock  of  matter  in  our  me- 
mory, that  fo  when  we  fhould  ufe  it,  we  may  hting 
forth  out  of  our  treafury  things  new  and  old.  If  we 
took  things  in  order,  and  obferved  fome  method  in 
refpedl  of  the  matter,  and  did  meditate  firil  on  one 
truth  concerning  eternity,  and  then  another,  it  would 
not  be  amifs.  And  if  any  fhould  be  barren  of  matter 
through  weaknefs  of  memory,  they  may  have  notes 
cr  books  of  iliis  fubjefl  for  their  furtherance. 

2.  When 


340     7'/^<f  Sdhits  Evcrlnjiing  Rtji. 

2.  W'.ien  yor.  have  fi-tclied  from  your  memory  the 
matter  of  your  nu-ditatioti,  your  next  work  is  to  pre- 
ffiit  it  to  your  judeuunt:  open  there  the  cafe  as 
fully  as  thou  canit,  fet  forth  the  fevcral  ornaments  of 
the  crown,  the  feveral  digniiies  belonging  to  the 
kingdom,  as  tlicy  are  partly  laid  open  in  the  begin- 
ning of  thi:i  book  ;  let  judgment  dtlihcrately  view 
them  over,  and  take  as  exacl  a  furvcy  as  it  can  j  then 
put  the  qiiefticn,  aid  require  a  determination.  ]s 
there  li^ppincfft  in  all  this,  or  not  ?  Is  not  !>ere  enough 
to  make  me  blefftd  ?  Can  he  want  any  thing,  who 
fully  poffeffeth  God  ?  Is  there  any  thing  lu'ghcr  for 
a  creature  to  attain  ?  Thus  urge  thy  judgment  to  pafs 
an  upright  fentence,  and  compel  it  to  fubiciibe  to  the 
perfedicn  of  thy  ccif  ilsal  happinefs,  and  to  leave  this 
fjntence  as  under  its  hand  upon  record.  ^ 

Thus  exercife  thy  judgment  in  the  contemplation 
of  thy  reft  ;  thus  magnify  and  advance  the  Lord  \n 
thy  heart,  till  an  holy  admiraiion  hath  poffeflld  thy 
foul. 

3.  But  the  great  work,  which  you  rray  either  pre- 
milCj  or  fubjoin  to  this  ae  you  pleafe,  is,  to  cxercifc 
thy  belief  of  the  truth  of  thy  reft  ;  and  that  both  in 
refpe(fl  of  the  truth  of  the  promifc,  and  alfo  the  truth 
of  thy  own  interelt  and  title.  As  unbelief  doth  caufe 
the  Innguiiliing  of  all  our  graces  ;  fo  faith  would  do 
much  to  revive  and  aftuate  them,  if  it  were  but  re- 
vived and  aduated  itfelf. 

If  we  did  foundly  believe  that  there  is  fuch  a  gloi- 
ry,  that  within  a  few  days  our  eyes  (hall  behold  it :  O 
'.vlir.t  paffions  would  it  raifc  within  us  !  Were  we  tho- 
)ou2;hly  p-erfuaded,  that  every  word  in  the  fcripture 
concerning  the  inconceivable  joys  of  the  kingdom,  and 
the  incxprefliDle  blcflldnsfs  of  the  life  to  come,  were 
the  very  word  of  the  living  God,  and  (hould  pertain*^ 

h 


The  Saints  EverlqjTing  Rejl,     341 

1y  be  per  formed  to  the  fmalled  tittle,  O  what  aftonifli- 
ing  apprehenfions  of  that  life  would  It  breed  !  How 
would  it  annate  every  affeciion  !  How  would  it  tranf- 
port  us  with  joy,  upon  the  leaft  alTurance  of  our  title  ! 
If  I  were  as  verily  perfuaded,  that  1  fliall  fliortly  fee 
thofe  great  things  of  eternity,  promifed  in  the  word, 
as  1  am,  that  this  is  a  chair  that  I  fit  in,  or  tliat  this 
is  paper  that  I  write  on  ;  would  it  not  put  another  fpi- 
ri:  within  me  ?  Would  it  not  make  me  forget  and  def- 
plfe  the  world?  and  even  foiget  to  deep,  or  to  eat? 
and  fay,  as  Chr'iJ}^  I  have  meat  to  eat  that  ye  know  not 
of.  O  firs,  you  little  know  what  a  thorough  belisf 
would  work. 

Therefore  let  this  be  a  chief  part  of  thy  bufinefs  in 
meditation.  Read  over  the  promifes  :  iludy  all  con- 
firming providences.  Call  forth  thine  own.  experi- 
ences:  remember  the  fcriptures  already  fulfilled  both 
to  the  church  and  faints  in  the  former  ages,  and  emi- 
nently to  both  in  this  prefent  age,  and  thofe  that  have 
been  fuUilltd  particularly  to  thee. 

Set  before  your  faith,  the  freenefs  and  the  univer- 
fallty  of  the  promlfe  :  confider  God's  oifer,  and  urge 
it  upon  all,  that  he  hath  excepted  from  the  conditi- 
onal covenant  no  man  in  tiie  vi'orld,  nor  will  exclude 
any  from  h.eavcn,  who  will  accept  of  his  offer.  Stu- 
dy alfo  the  gracious  difpofitlon  of  Chriil,  and  his  rea- 
dincfs  to  welcome  all  that  will  come:  (lady  all  the 
evidences  of  his  love,  which  appeared  in  his  fuffer- 
Ings,  in  his  preaching  the  gofpel,  in  his  condefccn- 
fion  to  finners,  in  his  eafy  conditions,  in  his  exceed- 
ing patience,  and  in  his  urgent  invitations  :  do  not 
all  thefe  difcover  his  readinefs  to  fave  ?  Did  he  evs^r 
manifeil  himfclf  unwilling  ?  Remember  alfo  his  faith- 
fulnefs  to  perform  his  engagements.  Study  alfo  the 
evidences  of  his  love  in  thyfeif  ?  look  over  the  works 
of  his  grace  in  thy  foul :  if  thou  doft  not  find  the 
Y  i  2  degree 


342     The  Saints  EvsrLijling  Rcjl.. 

tkgree  which  thou  defircft,  yet  deny  not  t!iat  degree 
which  thou  findeft.  Remembtr  what  difcoveries  of 
tl.y  Rate  thou  hall  made  lormerly  in  the  work  of  felf- 
ciamination.  Remember  all  the  former  tellimonies 
of  the  Spirit  ;  and  all  the  fweet  feelings  of  the  fa- 
vour of  God  :  and  all  the  piaycrs  that  he  hath  heard 
and  granted  ;  and  all  the  piefeivations  and  deliver- 
ances: and  all  the  progrefs  of  his  Spirit,  in  his  work- 
ijiga  on  thy  foill,  and  the  difpofals  of  Providenct, 
lond'jcing  to  thy  go-jd  :  and  vouchfaling  of  means, 
ihe  dircc^ting  of  thee  to  them,  the  diredin<^  of  miniiif.s 
to  meet  with  thy  Hate,  the  rcAraint  of  thofe  fins  that 
l!^y  natuie  was  mod  prone  to.  Lay  thdc  all  together, 
rind  then  think  with  thyfclf,  whether  all  thcfe  do  nc^t 
tcllify  the  good  will  of  the  Lord  concerning  thy  fal- 
vation  ?  And  whether  thou  mayft  not  conclude  with 
Sr47n'fmh  mother,  when  her  hulband  thought  they 
iliould  fnrely  die,  If  the  Lord  avere  pJeafed  to  kill  usy 
hs  nxculJ  rot  hai^e  received  an  f^i^'lrijr  at  our  handsy 
veitbsr  nt'ouid  he  hare  Jhenved  us  all  ihefe  things  ;  nor 
''vculd,  as  at  this  time,  have  told  us  f-uch  things  as  thcfc^ 
judges  xiii.   2  2,   23. 

2.  When  the  meditation  hath  thus  proceeded  about 
The  truth  of  thy  happineis,  the  next  part  of  the  work 
M  to  mtdilale  of  its  goodnefa  ;  that  when  the  judgment 
;  ath  detcimined,  and  fniih  halh  apprehended,  it  may 
then  paia  on  to  raife  the  aifedlions. 

I.  The  firfl  alTciftion  to  be  a<^ed,  is  love ;  the  ob- 
ject of  it  is  goodnefs ;  here  then  is  the  reviving 
part  of  thy  work:  go  to  thy  memory,  thy  judgment, 
a.-.d  thy  faith  ;  arki  from  them  produce  the  excellen- 
cies of  thy  reft  ;  take  out  a  copy  of  the  record  of  the 
i-pjrit  in  fcripture,  and  another  of  the  lentcnce  rc- 
j-ifiered  in  thy  Spirit,  whereby  the  ttanfcendant  glo)y 
<^f  the  faiiits  is  deebicd  :  prefcnt  thefe  to  thy  afTcdnon 
cf  love  ;  opea    to  it   the  cabinet    that   contains    the. 

pearl ; 


A 


The  Saints  EverlaJIing  Rejh     345-. 

pearl ;  (hew  ft  the  promjTe,  and  that  wlilch  it  affm-eth  ; 
thou  necdcll  not  look  on  lieavcn  through  a  muhlply- 
ing  glafs  :  open  but  one  cafcment,  that  love  may 
look  in  ;  give  it  Init  a  glimpfc  of  the  back  parts  of 
God,  and  thou  wilt  find  tiiyfelf  prefently  in  another 
world  :  do  but  fpeak  out,  and  love  can  hear  ;  do  but 
reveal  thefe  things  and  love  can  fee  ;  it  is  the  brutifli 
love  of  the  \vorld  that  is  blind  ;  divine  love  is  ex- 
ceeding quick-lighted.  Let  thy  faith,  as  it  were, 
take  thy  heart  by  tlie  hand,  and  fhew  it  the  fumptu- 
ous  buildings  of  thy  eternal  habitation,  and  the  glo- 
rious ornaments  of  thy  Father's  houfe  ;  Hievv  it  thole 
manfions  wliich  Chrill  i^  preparing,  and  dlfplay  be- 
fore it  the  honours  of  the  kingdom  :  let  faith  lead 
thy  heart  into  the  pTefence  of  God,  a!id  diaw  as 
near  as  pcffihly  thou  canft,  and  fay  to  it,  BeLola\  the 
jltidcnt  of  Days  ;  the  Lord  ychovjh^  ithofe  ram  is  I 
AM  :  this  is  he  who  made  the  worlds  with  hiswcrd  ; 
1 1^. is  is  the  caufe  of  all  caufes,  the  fpring  of  action, 
the  fountain  of  life,  the  firfi  principle  of  the  creatures* 
motions,  who  upholds  the  earth,  uiio  uileth  the  na- 
tions, who  difpofeth  of  events,  and  fubdueth  his  foes  ; 
v.ho  governeth  the  depths  cf  the  great  waters,  and 
iKnindcth  the  rage  of  her  fwelling  waves  ;  who  ruletii 
the  winds,  and  movcth  l!ie  orbs,  and  caufcth  the  fun 
to  run  its  \?.c.ey  and  the  ftveral  planets  to  know  tlieir 
couifes;  this  is  he  that  loved  thee  from  evcrlafiing, 
tl^.at  formed  thee  in  the  womb,  and  gave  thee  this 
foul  ;  who  brought  thee  forth,  and  ihewed  thee  the 
light,  and  ranked  thee  with  th.e  chief  of  his  eailhly 
creatures  ;  who  endued  thee  with  tliy  underftanding, 
and  beautified  thee  \\iih  his  gifts  ;  who  maintaineth 
thi.e  with  life,  and  hea.'th,  and  comforts  ;  who  gave 
thee  thy  preferments,  and  dignifud  thee  with  thy 
h;)p.c>ur-5,  and  differenct'd  thee  from  the  moll  miferabls 
aiid  viltll  of  men.  Here,  O  here  is  an  object  worthy 
thy  love  ;  litre  thou  mayft  be  fure  thou  canft  not  love 
too   much:   this    13    the  Lord  that  haih  bleiTed  thee- 

v.itii 


344     '^^^  Saints  Everlafting  Rejl, 

vith  his  benefits,  that  hath  fpread  thy  tabic  in  the- 
fight  of  thine  enemies,  and  caufed  thy  cup  to  over- 
flow. This  is  he  that  angels  and  faints  praife,  and 
tlie  hofl;  of  heaven  muft  magnify  for  ever. 

Thus  do  thou  expatiate  in  the  praifes  of  God, 
and  open  his  excellencies  to  thine  own  heart,  till  thou 
feel  the  life  begin  to  ftir,  and  the  fire  in  thy  bread 
begin  to  kindle  :  as  gazing  upon  the  dufty  beauty  of 
flsfli  doth,  kindle -the  lire  of  carnal  love;  fo  this  gazing 
on  the  gloiy  and  goodiiefs  of  the  Lord  will  kindle 
fpiritual  love.  What  though  thy  heart  be  rock  and 
.flint,  this  often  ftriking  may  bring  forth  the  fire  ; 
but  if  yet  thou  feelcll  not  thy  love  to  work,  lead  thy 
I'^eart  fuithcr,  and  fhcw  it  yet  more;  fiievy  it  the  Son 
of  the  living  God,  whofe  name  is  Wonderful^  Couri' 
fellor^  the  mighty  God,  the  everhijllng  Father f  the 
Prince  of  Peace  :  fhew  it  the  King  of  faints  on  the 
throne  of  his  giory,  who  isf  and  'was,  and  Is  to  come  ; 
loho  liveth  and  luas  dea  i,  and  behold,  he  lives  for 
evermore^  loho  hath  made  thy  peace  by  the  blood  of  his 
crofs,  and  hath  prepared  thee,  with  himfelf  an  habita- 
tion of  peace  i  his  office  is  to  be  x\\t  great  peace-maker  : 
Ivis  kingdom  is  a  kingdom  of  peace  ;  his  gofpel  is 
the  tidings  of  peace  ;  his  voice  to  thee  now  is  the 
voice  of  peace  :  draw  near  and  bc'nold  him  :  doll  thou 
not  hear  his  voice  ?  He  that  called  Thomas  to  come 
near  and  to  fee  the  print  of  the  nails,  and  to  put 
his  finger  into  his  wounds,  he  it  is  that  calls  to  thee, 
come  near  and  view  the  Lord  thy  Saviour,  and  be 
not  faithlefs,  but  believing  ;  Peact  be  unto  thee,  fear 
not,  it  is  J ,  he  that  calleth,  behold  me,  behold  me, 
to  a  rebellious  people  that  called  not  on  his  name, 
doth  call  out  to  thee  a  believer  to  behold  him  ;  he  that 
calls  to  them  who  pafs  by,  to  behold  his  forrow  in  the 
day  of  his  humiliation,  doth  call  now  to  thee  to  be- 
held his  glory  in  tlie  day  of  his  exaltation  :  look  well 
upon  him  :  doll  then  not  know  him  ?  Why,  it  is  he 

llua 


The  Saints  Evcridp/ing  Re/i.     345 

tliat  brought  thee  up  Aoiti  the  pit  of  hell  :  it  \i  he 
that  reverfed  the  fcntence  of  thy  damnation  ;  r'"at 
bo:  ■:  the  ciii'fc  which  thou  fiiouldft  have  horiu,  n-id 
rcilorcd  tliee  to  the  bUHing  that  thou  hadfl  forfeit  d, 
and  purchafcd  the  advancement  which  th.uj  mull  in- 
herit for  ev^r;  and  yet  doft  thou  not  knoA'  him? 
Whv,  his  hands  were  pierced,  his  head  v/as  pierced, 
}iis  fideR  were  pierced.  Iiis  heart  was  pi--:ced  witii  the 
(liner  of  thy  fins,  that  by  tliefc  marks  tl  cu  ma)  (I  al- 
ways know  him  :  dofl  thou  not  remenib' r  when  he 
found  thee  lying  in  tliy  blood,  and  took  pity  on  tliee, 
an.)  drelTed  thy  woundS;  and  brouglit  ih-t  hcine,  and 
fnid  unto  th^e,  Hv:  ?  Haft  thou  forgotten  fince  he 
wounded  liin^felf  to  cure  thy  wounds,  and  let  out  his 
own  blood  to  lil1>p  thy  bleeding  ?  Is  not  the  paffagc  to 
his  heart  yet  lianding  open  ?  If  thou  know  him  not 
by  the  face,  the  voice,  the  hands  ;  if  thou  know  him 
not  by  tlie  tears  and  bloody  fv^-oat,  yet  look  nearer^ 
thou  mayll  know  him  by  the  heart  ;  that  broken- 
liealed  heart  is  his,  that  dead-revived  heart  is  lu's, 
that  pitying,  melting  heart  is  his  ;  doubtlefs  it  can 
be  none  but  his  Love  and  compalTion  are  its  certain 
fignatures  ;  this  is  he,  even  this  is  he,  who  would 
rather  die  than  thou  iliouldil  die,  who  chofe  thy  life 
before  his  own,  who  pleads  his  blood  before  his  Fa» 
thcr,  and  makes  continual  intercefiion  for  thee.  If  he 
had  not  fuffered,  O  !  what  hadft  thou  fuffered  ?  What 
hadft  thou  been  if  he  had  not  redeemed  thee  ?  Whi- 
ther hadll  thou  gone,  if  he  had  not  recalled  thee  ? 
There  was  but  one  ftep  between  thee  and  hell,  when 
he  (lept  in  and  bore  the  ftroke  ;  he  flew  the  bear, 
and  refcued  the  prey  ;  he  delivered  tliy  foul  from  the 
roaring  lion  :  and  is  not  here  fuel  enough  for  love 
to  feed  on  ?  Doth  not  this  load!lone  fnatch  tin-  heart, 
and  olmoil  draw  it  forth  from  thy  bread  I  Canft  thou 
read  the  hiflory  of  love  any  further  at  once  ?  Doth 
not  thy  throbbing  heart  here  (lop  to  eafe  iiklf ;  and 
doil  thou  not,  as  Jofet-h,  fcek  for  a  place  to  weep  in  I 

Or 


346     The  Saints  Everlajling  RcJI. 

Or  do  not  the  tears  of  thy  love  bedew  tliefe  lines  ?  Go 
tiicn,  for  the  field  of  love  is  large,  it  will  yield  thee 
fiefh  contents  for  ever,  and  be  thine  eternal  work  to 
behold  and  love  ;  thou  needed  nut  then  want  work  for 
thy  prefcnt  meditation. 

Haft  thou  forgotten  the  time  when  thou  waft  weep- 
ing, and  he  wiped  the  tears  from  thine  eyes?  when 
thou  waft  bleeding,  and  he  wiped  the  blood  from  thy 
foul  ?  when  pricking  cares  and  fears  did  grieve  thee, 
and  he  did  refrefh  thee  and  draw  out  the  thorns  ?  Haft: 
thou  forgotten  when  thy  folly  wounded  thy  foul,  and 
ihe  venomous  guilt  feized  upon  thy  heart  ?  when  he 
fucked  forth  the  mortal  poifon  from  thy  foul,  though 
therewith  he  drew  it  into  his  own.      "^ 

I  remember  it  is  written  of  good  7^f/rtni?^o«,  that> 
when  his  child  was  removed  from  him,  it  pierced  his 
heart  to  remenciber,  how  he  once  fat  wet-ping,  with  the 
infant  on  his  knee,  and  how  lovingly  it  wiped  the  tears 
from  the  fathevf  eyes  :  how  then  fhould  it  pierce  thy 
heart  to  think  how  lovingly  Chrlft  h  th  wiped  away 
thine  !  O  how  oft  halh  he  found  thee  fitting  weeping, 
like  Ha^avy  while  thou  gaveft  up  thy  ftate,  thy  friends, 
th\  life,  yea,  thy  f  >ul  for  loft  ;  and  he  opened  to  thee 
a  well  of  confolalion,  and  opened  thine  eyes  alfo  that 
thou  mayft  fee  it  ?  How  oft  hath  he  found  thee-  in  the 
pofture  of  Ehasy  fitting  under  the  tree  forlorn  and  fc- 
litary,  and  dcfiring  rather  to  die  than  to  live  ;  and  he 
hath  fpread  thee  a  table  from  heaven,  and  fent  thee 
sway  refrefticd,  and  encouraged  r  How  oft  hath  he 
found  thee  as  the  fervant  of  Eiii^y  crying  out,  Alas  t 
Ku-nt  Jhill  lie  doy  an  hojl  doth  comptifs  the  city  ?  And 
be  hath  opened  thine  eyes  to  fee  more  for  thee  than 
agalnft  thee,  both  in  regard  of  the  enemies  of  thy  foul 
and  thy  body.  How  o!t  hath  he  found  thee  in  fuch 
a  pafTion  as  Jonasy  in  thy  pcevifh  frenzy,  weary  of 
thy  life  J.  and  be  hath  not  anfwcrcd  pafiion  with  paflir 


The  Saints  Ev&rh^/iing  lit  ft.     347 

on,  though  he  might  havi^  done  well  to  be  angry,  but 
hath  mildly  reafoned  thee  but  of  thy  madnefs,  and  faid, 
Dojl  thou  ivell  to  be  angry,  or  to  repine  againft  me  ? 
How  oft  hath  he  fet  thee  on  watching  and  praying,  or 
repenting  and  believing,  and  when  he  hath  returned, 
hath  found  thee  fad  afleep  ?  and  yet  he  hath  not  taken 
thee  at  the  worfl,  but  inftead  of  an  an^ry  aggravation 
of  thy  fault,  he  hath  covered  it  over  with  the  mantle 
of  love,  and  prevented  thy  over-much  forrow  with  a 
gentle  excufe.  Tht  fp'tnt  is  ufi/lingy  but  thejlrjh  is  'weak. 
He  might  have  done  by  thee,  as  Epam'.nondai  by  his 
foldier,  who  finding  him  afleep  upon  the  watch,  run 
him  through  wiih  his  fvvord,  and  faid,  '*  Dead  I  found 
*'  thee,  and  dead  I  leave  thee  :"  but  he  rather  chofe 
to  awake  thee  more  gently,  that  his  tendernefs  might 
admonifh  thee,  and  keep  thee  watching.  How  oft 
hath  he  been  traduced  in  his  caufe,  or  name,  and  thou 
haft,  like  Ptter,  denied  him  (at  leaft  by  thy  filcnce) 
whilft  he  hath  ftood  in  fight?  Yet  all  the  revenge  he 
hath  taken,  hath  been  a  heaTt-raelting  look,  and  a 
filent  remembering  thee  of  thy  fault  by  his  counte- 
nance. Kow  o<t  hath  confcience  haled  thee  before 
him,  as  the  Pharifces  did  the  adulterous  woman  ;  and 
kid  moft  heinous  crimes  to  thy  charge  ?  And  when 
thou  haft  expedted  to  hear  the  fenteuce  of  death,  he 
hath  fliamed  away  the  accufers  :  and  put  them  to 
tilence,  and  faid  to  thee,  Neither  do  I  condemn  th^e  ; 
go  thy  way,  and  Jin  no  more. 

And  art  thou  not  yet  tranfported  with  love  ?  Can 
thy  heart  be  cold  when  thou  thinkeft  of  this,  or  can 
it  hold  when  thou  remembereft  thofe  boundlefs  com* 
palTioTS  ?  Remembereft  thou  not  the  time  when  he 
met  thee  In  thy  duties ;  when  he  fmiled  upon  thee,  and 
fpake  comfortably  to  thee  ?  when  thou  didft^J"/  under ^ 
his  Jhadonv  ivith  great  delight,  and  ivheji  his  fruit  was 
fweet  to  thy  tnjle  P  when  he  brought  tkee  to  his  banquet- 
in^-houfe^  and  his  banner  ever  ih((  was  hve  P   when  his 

left 


348    The  Si  lints  Everlajlhj^  RtJT.  ^ 

left  hand  was  under  thy  head,  and  luiih  his  tight  hand 
be  did  embrace  thee  P  And  doft  thou  not  yet  cry  out. 
Stay  me,  ccnfcrt  me,  for  I  am  fick  of  love  ?  Thus  I 
would  have  thee  deal  with  thy  heart  ;  thus  hold  forth 
the  goodnefs  of  Chrlll  to  thy  afFe<Slicns  ;  plead  thus 
the  cafe  with  thy  frozen  foul,  till  thou  fay  ?.i  Dav'id'm 
another  cafe,  AJy  heart  was  hot  uithln  nie 

If  thefe  arguments  will  not  roufe  up  thy  love,  thou 
baft  more  of  this  nature  at  liand  :  thou  haft,  all  Chrifl'a 
perfonal  excellencies  to  (ludy  :  thou  haft  al!  his  parti- 
cular mercies  to  thyfelf ;  thou  haft  all  liis  fweet  and 
near  relations  to  thee,  and  thou  hall  the  happinefs  of 
thy  perpetual  abode  with  him  hereafter.  All  thefe 
offer  thenifelves  to  thy  meditation,  wiih  all  their  fe- 
veral  branches.  Only  follow  them  clofe  to  thy  heart, 
ply  the  work,  and  let  it  not  cool  :  deal  with  thy 
heart,  as  Chr^'ft  did  with  Peter,  wlien  he  afl-ccd  thrice 
over,  Lovejl  thou  ms  r  till  he  was  grieved,  and  an- 
fwers,  Lord,  thou  knoivejl  that  I  love  thee.  So  fay  to 
thy  heart,  loveft  thou  the  Lord  i*  and  afli  it  the  fe- 
cond  time,  and  urge  it  the  third  time,  loveft  thou 
the  Lord  ?  till  thou  grieve  it,  and  fliame  it  out  of 
its  ftupidity,  and  it  can  truly  fay,  thou  knoweft  that  I 
love  him. 

2.  The  next  affc<ft!on  to  be  excited  Is  defire.  The 
objeft  of  it  is  goodnefs  not  yet  attained.  This  being 
fo  neceffary  an  attendant  of  love,  and  being  excited 
much  by  the  fame  confiderations,  I  fuppofe  you  need 
the  lefs  dircd^icn,  and  therefore  1  ftiall  touch  but 
briefly  on  this ;  if  love  be  hot,  defirc  will  not  be 
cold.  ' 

"When  thou  haft  thus  viewed  the  goodnefs  of  the 
I^ord,  and  cojifidered  the  pleafures  that  arc  at  his 
right-hand,  then  proceed  on  thy  meditation  thus: 
think  with  thyfelf,  where  have  I  been  I  what  have  I 

feen? 


The  Saints  Evcrlajihig  Rc/l,    349 

feen  ?  O  the  incomprfebeniible,  adonlHiing  glory !  O 
the  rare  tranfcendent  beauty  !  O  blcflcd  fouls  that 
now  enjoy  it  !  that  fee  a  ihoufand  tirncs  more  clearly, 
what  I  have  feen  but  darkly  at  th.Is  ciftance,  and 
fcarce  difcern  through  the  inte:pofing  clouds  !  What 
a  difference  is  there  betwixt  my  (late  and  thc.rs!  I 
am'lighing-,  and  they  are  ilnging  :  I  am  fjnning,  and 
tliey  are  pleafing  God  :  1  have  an  ulcerated  foul,  like 
the  loathfome  bodies  of  j;b  or  Lazarus,  but  they  are 
perfetl  and  without  blemilh  :  I  am  here  entangi«.d  in 
the  love  of  the  world,  when  they  are  taken  up  with 
the  love  of  God:  I  live  indeed  amongft  the  means  of 
grace,  and  I  pofiefs  the  ftUowfhip  of  my  fcllow-be- 
lievers  ;  but  I  have  none  of  their  immediate  views  of 
God,  none  of  that  fcllovvfhip  that  they  poflefs  :  they- 
have  none  of  my  cares  and  fears  ;  they  weep  not  in 
fecret ;  they  languifli  not  in  forrows;  all  tears  are 
wiped  away  from  their  eyes.  O  whatafenft  hath  my 
filth  beheld,  and  what  a  famine  is  yet  in  my  fpirit! 
I  have  feen  a  glimpfe  of  the  court  of  God,  but  aia?, 
I  [land  but  as  a  beggar  at  the  doors,  when  tiie  fouls 
of  my  companions  are  admitted  in.  O  blefled  fouls! 
I  may  not,  I  dare  not  envy  your  happinefs ;  I  rather 
rejoice  in  my  brethren's  profperity,  and  am  glad  to 
think  of  the  day  when  I  fliall  be  admitted  into  your 
fc'llowflTip,  But  O  that  I  were  fo  happy  as  to  be  In 
yijur  place  ;  not  to  difplace  you,  but  to  reft  there 
with  you  Why  muft  I  ftay  and  groan,  and  weej), 
and  wait  ?  My  Lord  is  gone,  he  hath  left  this  earth, 
and  Is  entered  into  his  glory  :  my  brethren  are  gone, 
my  friends  are  there,  my  houfe,  my  hope,  my  all  is 
there  ;  and  mull  I  (lay  behind  to  fojourn  here  ?  WIvil 
precious  faints  have  left  this  earth  !  If  the  faints  were 
all  here,  if  Chr'jjl  were  here,  then  It  were  no  g'"ef  for 
me  to  ftay  :  but  when  my  foul  is  (o  far  diftant  from  my 
God,  wonder  not  if  I  now  complain  ;  an  Ignorant 
Micah  will  do  fo  for  his  idol,  and  ftiall  not  my  foul 
do  fo  for  God  ?  And  vet  if  I  had  no  hope  of  cn;oy- 


350     The  Saints  E'verlajling  ReJI, 

ing,  I  would  go  and  hide  myfclf  in  the  deferts,  and 
fpcnd  my  days  in  fruiilcfs  wifhes  :  but  feeing  it  is  the 
promifed  land,  the  ftate  I  mufl;  be  advanced  to  myfelf, 
and  my  foul  draws  near,  and  is  almoll  at  it,  I  will 
live  and  long  ;  I  will  look  and  defire  :  I  will  breathe 
out,  How  long,  Lord,  how  long!  How  long,  Lord, 
holy  and  true,  wilt  thou  fuffer  this  foul  to  pant  and 
groan  !  and  wilt  not  open  and  let  him  in,  who  waits 
and  longs  to  be  with  thee  ! 

Thus, , reader,  let  thy  thoughts  afpire:  thus  whet 
thedefircsof  thy  foul  by  meditation  ;  till  thy  foul  long 
(as  David's  for  the  wate'rs  of  Beihieherr.)  and  fay,  0 
that  one  tLWuld give  me  to  drink  of  the  wells  of  fahation  ! 
and  till  thou  canft  fay  as  he,  /  have  longed  for  thy  fal- 
ijatiorjy  0  Lord  ! 

3.  The  next  affection  to  be  afled,  is  hope.  This  is 
♦■.•f  fingular  ufe  to  the  foul.  It  helpetli  exceedingly  to 
fupport  it  in  fufferings;  it  encourageth  it  to  adventure 
npon  the  greateft  difficulties;  it  firmly  eflablifhtth  it 
in  tlie  mod  fliaking  trials,  and  it  mightily  enlivens  the 
foul  in  duties. 

Let  faith  then  iliew  thee  the  truth  of  the  promife, 
and  judgiiient  the  goodnefs  of  the  thing  promifed  ; 
nnd  what  then  is  wanting  for  the  raifing  thy  liope  T 
ohew  thy  foul  from  the  word  and  from  the  mercies, 
and  from  the  nature  of  God,  what  pofiibility,  yea, 
what  probability,  yea,  what  certainty  thou  halt  of 
poffeffing  the  crown.  Think  thus,  and  reafon  tlius 
with  thy  own  heart  :  wliy  fhould  I  not  confidently 
?.nd  comfortably  hope,  when  my  foul  is  in  the  hands 
of  fo  conipaffionate  a  Saviour,  and  when  t)ie  kingdom 
is  at  the  difpofal  of  fo  bounteous  a  God  ?  Did  he 
ever  manifcft  any  backwaiduefs  to  my  good,  or  dif- 
cover  the  Icaft  inclination  to  my  ruin?  Hath  he  not 
iwor.n  to  the  cont:ary  to  mc  in  \\h  wo^d;  that   he  de- 

lJ"hts 


The  Saints  Everhi/ling  Rejl,     351 

lights  not  ir>  the  death  of  him  that  dieth,  but  rather 
that  he  fhould  repent  and  h've  ?  Have  not  all  his 
dealings  with  me  vvitRefied  the  fame  ?  Did  he  not 
mind  me  of  my  danger,  when  I  never  feared  it  ?  And 
why  was  t'iis,  if  he  would  not  have  me  to  efcape  it  ? 
Did  he  not  mir.d  me  of  my  happinef*?,  when  I  had 
no  thoughts  of  It  ?  And  why  was  this,  but  that  he 
would  have  me  to  enjoy  it  ?  I  have  been  afaanied  of 
my  hope  in  the  arm  of  fleHi,  but  hope  in  the  pro- 
mifc  of  God  maketh  not  afnat-ned ;  I  will  fay  there- 
fore in  my  greatcll  fuflferlngs,  The  Lord  is  my  poriior:, 
therefore  iv'tll  I  hope  in  him,  The  Lord  is  good  to  them 
that  %vait  for  hirrif  to  the  foul  that  fash  Jj  him;  it  is  good 
that  /  dci'h  hcpfi  and  quietly  tvait  for  the  fahoation  of 
the  Lord,  The  Lord  nv'dl  not  caji  off  for  e-vsr  ;  hut 
though  he  caufe  grUfy  yet  ni'ill  he  have  ccmp-T^on  accord-' 
ino  to  the  muhitudc  of  his  merdrs.  Though  I  languifli 
and  die,  yet  will  I  hope  ;  for  he  hath  faid,  The  rights 
com  hath  hope  in  his  death.  Though  I  mull  lie  down 
in  dull  and  darkncfs,  yet  there  my  Jlflo  Jhall  reji  in 
hope.  And  when  my  fiefh  hath  nothing  In  which  it 
may  rejoice,  yet  will  1  keep  the  rejoicing  of  hot;  firm 
to  the  e::d. 

4.  The  lafl  i-ifeition  to  be  aftcd,  i^  joy.  This  is 
the  end  of  all  the  reft ;  love,  dcfne,  hope,  tend  to 
the  raifing  of  our  joy.  And  Is  it  nothing  to  have  a. 
deed  of  gift  frcin  God?  Are  his  infallible  promifes 
no  ground  of  joy  ?  Is  it  nothing  to  live  in  daily  ex- 
pectation of  entering  into  the  kingdom  ?  Is  not  my 
aflurance  of  being  glorified  one  day,  a  futScient 
ground  for  Inexprcffible  joy  ?  Is  It  no  delight  to  the 
heir  of  a  kingdom,  to  think  of  what  he  mull  hereafter 
poffefs,  though  at  prefer.t  he  little  differ  from  a  fer- 
vani  ?  Am  I  not  commanded  to  rejoice  in  hcpe  oftheglo' 
fj  0/  God  ? 

Here 


2S^    The  Sahifs  EverlaJIing  Rcjl, 

Here  take  tliy  heart  once  again  as  It  were  by  the 
hand  ;  bring  it  to  the  top  of  the  highcll  mount  ;  fliew 
It  the  kingdom  nf  Chri/l,  and  ihe  glory  of  it  :  fay  to  it, 
y^/l  this  ivill  thy  Lord  bejlotu  vp-)n  thss,  ti>ho  hajl  believed 
in  hinjy  and  L-t'n  u  icorf.ipper  of  him.  ll  is  the  Father's 
vood  pleofure  to  ^ivr  thee  this  hingdom,  SecU  thou  this 
sRonifliinj  g^ory  above  tlice?  Why  all  this  is  thy  own 
inheritance,  'i  !)!&  crown  is  thine,  thcfc  plcafurcs  are 
thine,  hccanfe  thou  art  Chr'ill\,  and  Chrifl  is  thine  ; 
when  thou  wert  married  to  him,  thou  hadft  all  this 
with  him. 

Thu3  take  thy  her.rt  Into  the  l?.nd  of  promire  ;  Hicvv 
it  the  plcr.fant  hills  and  fruiifiil  vallieo  ;  (hew  it  the 
cluS-srsorgjapes  which  tliou  hafl  gat]ieved,and  by  ihofe 
convinceit  that  itisa  blcfled  land,  flowing  with  better 
than  milk  and  h.onfy  :  enter  the  gates  of  the  holy  city, 
■walk  through  the  firects  of  the  Neiu  Jerufalemt  walk 
^houiStcn,  go  round  about  her,  tell  the  towers  there- 
of, mark  well  her  bulwarks,  confider  her  palaces,  that 
thcu  mnycft  tell  it  to  thy  foul  :  The  foundation  is  garm/li' 
ed  tuith  precious  Jhr.es ;  the  ttvelve  gaits  are  twelve 
pearls  ;  the  fired  of  the  city  is  pure  ^oldf  as  it  ni-ere  tranf 
parent  nlnfs  ;  there  is  no  temple  in  it,  for  the  Lord  God 
A'rr.i-hty  and  the  Lamb  are  the  terr.pk  of  it.  It  hath  no 
need  of  fun  or  moon  tofrAne  in  it  ^  for  the  glory  of  God  doth 
lighten  it^  &r.d  the  Lamb  fs  the  tight  thereof  and  the  na- 
tions of  them  nvhich  are  faved  fl:all  ivalk  in  the  light  of 
it.  This  is  thy  reft,  O  my  foul,  and  this  mufl  be  the 
place  of  thy  everlalting  habitation  :  Let  all  the  fons  of 
^ion  then  rejoice,  and  the  daughters  of  Jervhkm  be  glad ; 
for  great  is  the  Lord^  and  greatly  is  he  praifcd  in  the  city 
if  cur  Gcd:  beautiful  fur  fituaUcn,  the  joy  of  the  nvhole 
t':rth  is  mount  Slon  ;  God  is  Anozin  in  her  palaces  for  a 
*f'^S^' 


Yet  proceed  :   the    foul    (faith    /xfiin)   that    loves, 
ifccnds  frcqiuently,  aiid  runs  familiarly    through    the 

iireets  J 


The  Saints  Everlcifling  Refi,     JtSo 

(Irects  of  the  heavenly  Jerufalem^  vinting  t!ie  patriarchs 
and  prophets,  fahiting  the  apoftlcs,  and  admiring  the 
armies  of  martyrs  and  confefTors.  So  do  thou  lead  oa 
tliy  heart  as  from  (Ireet  to  ilreet,  bringing  it  into  the 
palace  of  the  great  King  ;  lead  it,  as  it  were,  from 
chamber  to  chamber  ;  fay  to  it,  here  mufl  1  lodge,  here 
muft  1  live,  here  mu(l  1  love,  and  be  loved.  I  mulfc 
fliortly  be  one  of  this  ht-avenly  choir,  I  rtiall  then  be 
better  ilvilled  in  the  mufic  ;  among  this  bleffed  com- 
pany mull  I  take  my  place  ;  iny  tears  vsm'U  then  be 
wiped  away  :  tliere  it  is  that  trouble  and  lamentation 
ceafe,  and  the  voice  of  forrow  is  not  heard  ;  O  when 
I  look  i:pon  this  glorious  place,  what  a  dungeon,  mc- 
tliinks,  is  earth  !  O  what  a  difference  betwixt  a  man 
feeble,  pained,  groaning,  dying,  rotting  in  the  grave, 
and  one  of  thefc  triumphant,  bkffed,  Ihining.faints  I 
Vitxtfiall  I  drink  thtn  of  the  river  ofpleafure,  thejlr earns 
*iuhereof  make  ghid  the  city  of  God.  For  the  Lord  tci/i 
create  a  nezv  earthy  and  the  former  Jball  not  he  nmeni- 
bered  ;  ive  Jli.iU  be  glad^  and  rejoice  for  ever  in  thai 
tuhich  he  creates  ;  for  he  will  create  Jerufalcm,  a  rejoic- 
i.'}gf  and  her  people  a  j'jy  ;  and  he  ii  ill  i  ejoice  in  Jerufu' 
lem,  and  joy  in  his  pcyple,  and  the  voice  of  "jjee pin?  Jball 
hi  no  more  heard  in  h.'rj  nor  the  'voice  of  crying  ;  there 
Jhall  he  no  more  thence  an  infant  cf  cUy^f  nor  an  old  man 
th.ii  halh  notflhd  his  djys. 

Why  do  I  not  then  arlfe  from  the  dud,  and  lay 
afidc  my  fad  complaints,  and  ccafe  my  mourning  ? 
Why  do  I  not  trample  down  vain  delights,  and  feed 
upon  the  forefeen  deligh.ts  of  glory  ?  Why  is  not  my 
life  a  continual  joy  ;  and  the  fctvour  of  heaven  perpe- 
tually upon  my  fpirit  ? 

I  do  not  plr.ce  any  flat  neceflity  in  thy  acting  all  the 

fore- mentioned   affeftions    in    this  order  at  one  time, 

or  in  one   duty:   perhaps   thou    mayfl   fomelime  feel 

fbme  one  of  thy  affcdions  more  flat  than  the  reft,  ai.d 

G  g  2  Jo 


354    ^^^  Saiiiis  EverhiJIing  Rcf.  • 

fo  to  have  rr.orc  need  of  exciting  :  or  ihou  may  (I  find 
one  Iliirlng  raore  than  the  rcil,  and  fo  think  it  more 
ieaLonahle  to  help  it  forward  ;  or  if  thy  time  be  fhort, 
thou  mayft  work  upon  one  affeftlon  one  day,  and  iip- 
0:1  anolber  the  next,  as  tiiou  findcil  caufe  ;  all  this  I 
leave  to  thy  own  prudence. 


c  K  A  p.    VIII. 

Ssrne  At'^vjnfagcs  and  Helps ^  for  ra'ifin^  ihc 
Soul  by  Meditation. 

II  E  !:exi  part  of  this  dirc6\ory,  is  to  (hew  you 
what  advantages  you  fiiould  take,  and  whati 
lielps  you  fi.ould  ufe,  to  make  your  meditations  of 
heaven  more  quickening,  and  to  make  you  taftethe 
Aveetnefs  that  is  therein  For  this  is  the  main  work, 
that  you  may  not  ilick  in  a  bare  thinking,  but  may 
liavc  the  lively  ferife  of  all  upon  your  hearts  :  and  this 
3'ou  will  find  to  b«  tl.e  moft  difficult  part  of  the  work, 
it  is  eafier  to  think  of  heaven  a  whole  day,  than  to  be 
lively  and  aiTc6tionate  iu  ihofe  thoughts  one  quartei  of 
anliour.  Therefore  let  us  yet  a  little  further  confider 
"W'hat  may  be  done,  to  make  your  thoughts  of  heaven 
})icrcing,  affedling  thoughts. 

It  will  be  a  point  of  fpirltual  prudence,  and  a  fin- 
p^ular  help  to  the  farthering  of  faith,  to  call  in  our 
fcnfes  to  its  afiiltance:  If  we  c?.n  make  us  friends  of 
th'jfe  -ufiial  enemies,  and  make  them  inftruments  of 
lailing  us  to  God,  which  are  the  ufual  means  of 
drawing  us  from  God,  wc  Oiall  perform  a  vciy  ex- 
cellent work.  Sure  it  is  both  pofiible  a-xl  lawful  ti» 
do  fomething  in  this  kind  ;  for  God  wouM  not  have 
;givcn   us  either  fenfes  thsjnfclve?,  or  their  ufual  oh- 

jeas. 


The  Saints  Everlajling  Refl,     355 

}e£ls,  if  they  might  not  hr.ve  been  ferviccable  to  his 
own  praife,  and  helps  to  taife  us  to  the  apprehcnfion  of 
higher  things  :  and  it  is  veiy  confideiablt,  how  the 
Holy  Ghoit  doth  condefcend,  m  the  plirafi;  of  fcrip- 
ture,  in  bringing  things  down  to  the  reach  of  fcnfe  ; 
how  he  fets  forth  the  txcellencies  of  ipiritual  th.ings  in 
words  that  are  borrowed  from  the  ohjcds  of  fcnfe. 
Doubtlefs,  if  fnch  exprelllons  had  not  been  bed,  and 
to  us  necefiary,  the  Holy  Ghoft  would  not  have  lO  fre- 
quently ufed  them  :  he  that  will  fpeak  to  man's  under- 
Handing,  mud  fpeak  in  man's  langu::ge,  and  fpeak 
that  wiiich  he  is  capable  to  conceive. 

I.  Go  to  then  ;  when  thon  fetted  thyfelf  to  medi- 
tate on  thejoys  above,  think  on  them  boldly  as  fcrip- 
tare  hath  expreOcd  them  :  bring  down  thy  conceivings 
to  tlie  reach  of  fenfe.  Excellency,  without  familiari- 
ty, doth  more  amaze  than  delight  us  ;  but  love  and 
joy  are  promoted  by  familiar  acquaintance  :  when  we 
go  about  to  think  of  God  and  glory  without  thefe 
ipcclaclcs,  we  ate  loll,  and  have  nothing  to  fix  our 
thoughts  upon  ;  wc  fet  God  and  he-'ven  fo  fiir  from 
us,  that  our  thoughts  are  ftrange,  and  we  look  at 
them  as  things  beyond  our  reach,  and  are  ready  to 
fay,  that  which  is  above  is  nothing  to  us  :  to  conceive 
DO  more  of  God  and  glory,  but  that  we  cannot  con- 
ceive them  ;  and  to  apprehend  no  more,  but  that  they 
21  e  pall  apprehenfion,  will  produce  no  more  love  but 
this,  to  acknowledge  that  they  are  fo  far  above  us 
--i'^K.l  vc cannot  love  them,  and  no  more  joy  but  this, 
that  they  are  above  our  njoicing.  And  therefore  put 
Chrifl  no  fuither  {rocvi  you,  than  he  hath  put  himfelf, 
left  the  divine  nature  be  again  inacceflible.  Think 
•of  Chrift  as  in  our  own  nature  glorified  ;  think  of  our 
f(.llow-faints  as  men  there  perfedled  ;  think  of  the  ci- 
ty and  (late  as  the  Spirit  hath  expreffed  it,  only  with 
caution.  Suppofe  thou  wert  now  beholding  this  city 
vof  God,  and   that  ihou  hadft  been  a  companion  with 


35 o     Th^  Saints  Everlajlirg  Rejl, 

"John  In  his  furvey  of  its  glory,  and  had.l  feen  the 
thrones,  the  majefty,  the  heavenly  hofts,  the  (liinhig 
fplendor  which  he  faw  :  draw  as  ftron;^  fuppofitiona 
as  may  be  from  thy  fenfe  for  the  helping  of  thy  af- 
fcrdlloiis  :  it  is  lawful  to  ftippofe  we  did  fee  for  the 
prefent,  that  which  God  fiath  in  prophefies  revealed, 
and  which,  we  mufl:  really  fee  In  mors  unfpeakablc 
brightncfs  before  long.  Siippofe  therefore  with  thy- 
fclf  thou  hadft  been  that  apoltle's  fellow  traveller  into 
the  celellial  kingdom,  and  that  thou  hadii:  feen  all  the 
faints  in  their  white  robes,  with  palms  In  their  hands  : 
fuppofe  ihou  hadil  heard  thofc  fonjd  of  Mofis^  and  of 
the  Lamb  ;  or  didil  even  now  hear  tliem  prailuig  ar.i 
glorifying  the  living  God  :  if  thon  hadft  feen  thefe 
things  Indeed,  in  what  a  rapture  wouldit  thou  have 
been  !  And  the  more  ferioufjy  thou  putteft  this  fup- 
pofulon  to  thyfelf,  the  more  will  the  meditation  ele- 
vate thy  lieart. 

I  would  net  have  thee,  as  the  PaplJIs,  draw  them 
In  piftures,  nor  ufe  fuch  ways  to  reprefcnt  thcnr. 
This,  as  it  is  a  courfe  forbiddeti  by  God,  fo  it 
would  but  fcduce  and  draw  down  thy  heait  :  but  get 
the  Hveliefl  picture  of  tiiem  in  thy  mind  that  pofiibly 
thou  cand  ;  meditate  on  them,  as  If  thou  vvert  all  the 
while  beholding  them,  and  as  if  thou  wert  even  hear- 
ing the  hallelnjahs;  till  thou  canil  fay,  methiiiks  £ 
fee  a  gllmpfe  of  the  glory  !  Methinks  I  hear  the 
fliouts  of  joy  and  pralfe  !  Methinks  I  eveniiandhj^ 
yibraham  and  Djviil,  Peler  and  Paul,  and  more  Or" 
thefe  triumphing  fouls!  Methinks  I  fee  the  Son  of 
Cod  appearing  in  the  clouds,  and  the  world  ftanding, 
at  his  bar  to  receive  their  doom  !  Methinks  I  hear 
him  fay.  Corns  ye  bhjfal  of  my  Fathtr ;  and/fee/;6^;« 
^0  rejoicing  into  the  joy  o  their  Lord !  My  very  dreams 
of  thefe  things  have  deeply  affedted  me  ;  and  jh')uld 
cot  thefejuft  fuppofitions  afteft  me  much  more  ?  ^Vjiac 
if  1  had  feen    with   Paul  thofe  liiiuttcrable  tilings: 

fliuuld 


The  Saints  Evcrlajlhig  Refl,     357 

/hoiihl  T  not  have  been  exalted  ,  and  tliat  perhaps  above 
mcafure)  as  well  as  he  ?  What  if  I  had  ilood  in  the 
room  oi  Stephen,  and  f(Lc.'n  heaven  opened,  and  Chnjl 
fitting  at  the  right  hand  of  God  ?  Surely  th.at  one 
fight  VIMS  worth  tlie  fufFciing  his  ftorm  of  tlones.  O 
that  I  might  but  fee  what  he  did  fee,  tliough  I  alio  fuf- 
fered  what  he  did  fi'lTer  !  What  if  I  had  {^t'(\  fuch  a 
fight  as  Mirbatah  faw  i*  Thf  l.ordftttin^  upon  his  throtic, 
and  all  ththojls  of  ksavfn  Jiav.d'mg  on  hu  light  hand  and 
on  his  left.  Why  thefe  men  of  God  did  fee  fuch  things; 
and  I  rtiull  (lioitly  fee  far  more  than  ever  they  fasv, 
till  they  wtix'  loofcd  from  the  flefh,  as  I  mud  be. 
And  thus  you  fee  how  the  familiar  conceiving  of  the 
date  of  blciTedncfs,  as  the  Spirit  hath  in  a  condefcend^ 
ing  language  cxprefTed  it,  and  our  ftrong  fuppofitions 
raifed  fro ni  our  bodily  fenfe?,  will  further  our  affecti- 
ons in  this  heavenly  work, 

2.  There  is  yet  another  way  by  which  we  may 
make  our  Cenfes  fervictable  to  us,  and  tliat  is,  by  conv- 
paring  liie  objedls  of  fenfe  with  the  objedls  of  faith  ; 
and  fo  forcing  fenfe  to  afford  ii3  that  medium,  from 
whence  we  may  conclude  the  tranfcendent  worth  of 
glory,  by  arguing  from  fenfitive  delights  as  from  the 
lefs  to  the  greater.  And  here  for  your  further  alud- 
ance,  1  (hall  furni/h  you  with  fome  of  thefe  compara- 
tive arguments. 

And  I.  You  mufl  ftrongly  argue  with  your  hearts, 
from  the  corrupt  delights  of  fenfual  men.  Think  then 
with  yourfelvea,  vvlien  you  would  be  fenfible  of  the 
joys  above  :  is  it  fuch  a  deligiit  to  a  fniner  to  do  wick- 
edly ?  And  will  it  not  be  delightful  indeed  to  live  with 
God  ?  Hatha  drunkard  fuch  delight  m  his  cups  and 
companions,  tiiat  the  very  fears  of  damnation  will  not 
make  him  forfake  them  ?  Sure  then  there  are  high  de- 
lights with  God  I  If  the  way  to  hell  can  afford  fuch 
pleafure,  what  are  thepleafures  of  the  faints  in  heaven  ? 

2.  Coo^ 


353 


The  Saints  Everlajlmg  RejL 


2.  Compare  alfo  the  deliglits  above,  with  the  law- 
fiil  deligl'.ts  of  feijfe.  Think  with  thyfelf,  how  fvveet 
is  food  to  my  tafte  when  1  am  hungry  !  Efpecially,  as 
Ifaac  faid,  tbaf  li-hkh  my  foul  hvtth.  What  dch'ght 
hath  the  tafte  In  fome  nleafant  fruits,  in  feme  well  rc- 
lilhed  meats  !  O  what  delight  then  nu)(l  my  foul  have 
in  feeding  upon  Chiiit  the  living  bread!  and  in  eat- 
ing with  hini  at  his  table  in  his  kingdom  !  How  plea- 
fant  is  drink  in  tlie  extremity  of  third  !  Then  how 
delightful  will  it  be  to  my  foul  to  drink  of  that  foun- 
tain of  Uv'mg  tuater,  which  ixhofo  dr'mki  fiall  thlrji  ni 
more  ! 


3.  Compare  alfo  the  delights  above  with  the  de- 
lights that  are  found  in  natural  knowledge  :  This  is 
far  beyond  the  delights  of  fcnfe,  and  the  delights  of 
heaven  are  further  beyond  it.  Think  then,  can  an 
/irchim:des  be  fo  taken  up  with  his  mathematical  in- 
vention, that  the  threats  of  death  cannot  take  him 
off  ?  Should  I  not  much  more  be  taken  up  with  the  de- 
lights of  glory,  and  die  with  thefe  contemplations 
frerti  upon  my  foul ;  efpeciplly  when  my  death  will 
perfect  my  delights  \  But  thofe  oi  Archimedes  die  with 
him.  What  a  pleafure  is  it  to  dive  into  the  fecrets  of 
nature  1  to  find  out  the  myfteries  of  arts  and  fcicnces  ! 
If  we  make  but  any  nev/  difcovsry  in  one  of  thefe, 
what  fingular  pleafure  do  wc  find  therein  !  Think  then 
what  high  delights  there  are  in  the  knowledge  of  God 
and  Cliriil  !  if  the  face  of  human  learning  be  fo  beau- 
tiful, that  fenfual  pleafures  are  to  it  but  bafe  and  bru- 
tifh  ;  how  beautiful  then  is  the  face  of  God  !  When 
we  light  on  fomc  choice  and  learned  book,  how  are  we 
taken  with  it !  we  could  read  and  ftudy  it  day  and 
right  ;  we  can  leave  meat,  and  drink,  and  fleep  to 
read  it  ;  what  delights  then  are  there  at  God's  right 
hand,  where  we  Hiall  know  ia  a  moment  more  thaa 
any  mortal  c\in  know  ! 

4.  Cora- 


The  Saints  Everlajl'mg  llcjl.     359 

4.  Compare  alfo  the  delights  above,  with  the  de- 
lights of  morality,  and  of  the  natural  affections. 
What  deh'ght  had  many  fober  heathens  in  the  practice 
of  moral  duties  ;  fo  that  they  took  him  only  for  an 
honed  man  who  did  well  through  the  love  of  virtue, 
•and  not  only  for  fear  of  puni^ioient  :  yea,  fo  highly 
did  they  value  virtue,  that  they  thought  the  chief 
happinefs  of  man  confided  in  it.  'i'hink  then  what 
excellency  theie  will  be  in  that  rare  perfeftion  which 
we  fhall  be  raifed  to  in  heavtn  ;  and  in  that  uncreat- 
ed perfedion  of  God  which  we  fhall  behold  !  What 
fweetnefs  is  there  in  the  exercife  of  natural  love  : 
whether  to  cliildren,  to  parents,  to  yoke-fellows  or  to 
-friends!  The  delight  which  fpecial,  faithful  friends 
find  in  lovir.g  and  enjoying  one  another,  is  a  mofl 
pleafing,  fweet  delight  ;  even  Chriil  himfclf,  as  it 
feemetli,  had  feme  of  this  kind  of  love,  for  he  had 
one  difciple  whom  he  efpscially  loved.  Think  then, 
if  the  delights  of  cordial  friendfhip  be  fo  great,  wliat 
delights  fliall  we  have  in  the  friendfhip  of  the  Most 
High  ?  and  in  our  mutual  amity  with  Jefus  Chrift  ? 
and  in  the  deareft  love  and  comfort  with  the  faints  ? 
Surely  this  will  be  a  clofer  and  ftiifter  friendHiip  than 
ever  was  betwixt  any  friends  on  earth  ;  and  thefe  will 
be  more  lovely  arid  defirable  friends  than  any  that  ever 
the  fun  bc'ield  ;  and  both  our  affeclions  to  our  Father, 
and  our  ;Saviour,  but  efpccially  his  affeftion  to  us, 
will  be  fuch  as  here  we  never  knew  )  as  fpirits  are  fo 
far  more  powerful  than  fjcfh,  that  one  angel  can  de- 
ilroy  an  hoft,  fo  alfo  are  there  affedtions  more  ftrong 
and  powerful ;  we  fhall  then  love  a  thoufand  times 
more  ftrongly  and-fweetly  than  now  we  can  ;  and  as 
all  the  attributes  and  works  of  God  are  incomprehen- 
iible,  fo  is  the  attribute  and  work  of  love  :  he  will 
love  us  many  thoufand  times  more,  than  we  even  at 
the  perfeded,  are  able  to  love  him  :  what  joy  then 
•will  there  be  in  \.\n^  mutual  love  ! 

c.  Com* 


r 


360    The  Saints  Everlajling  RdJ}, 

5.  Compare  alfo  the  excellencies  oi  lieaven  witit 
Uiofe  glorious  wo:ks  of  the  creation  which  oiir  eyes 
now  behold.  What  a  deal  of  wifdom,  and  power, 
and  goodnefs  appeareih  in  and  through  them  to  a  wife 
ivbferver  !  What  a  deal  of  the  majeily  of  the  great 
Creator  doth  ihine  in  tlic  face  of  this  fabric  of  the 
world  !  Surely  liis  works  are  great  and  odmirable, 
ibught  out  of  them  tliat  have  pleafurc  therein.  This 
makes  the  Ihidy  of  natural  philofophy  fo  plea  fan  t,  be- 
caufe  the  works  of  God  are  fo  excellent  :  what  rare 
workmanfhip  is  in  the  body  of  a  man  !  yea,  in  the 
body  of  every  bead  !  which  makes  the  anatomical  ftu- 
clits  fo  delightful.  What  excellency  in  every  plant  we 
fee  !  in  the  beauty  of  flowers!  in  the  nature,  diverfity 
and  ufe  of  herbs!  in  fruits,  in  roots,  in  minerals,  and 
what  not  !  But  efpecially,  if  we  look  to  the  greater 
work  ;  if  we  confider  the  whole  body  of  this  earth, 
and  its  creatures,  and  inhabitants  ;  the  ocean  of  wa- 
ters, with  its  motions  and  dimenfions,  the  variation 
of  the  fe?;fons,  and  of  the  face  of  the  earth  ;  the  inter- 
courfe  of  fpring  and  fall,  of  fummer  and  winter  ;  what 
wonderful  excellency  do  thefe  contain  I  Why,  then 
think  if  thefe  things  which  are  but  fcrvants  to  finful 
man,  are  yet  fo  full  of  myfterious  worth  ;  what  is 
that  place  where  God  himfelf  doth  dwell,  prepared 
for  the  juft  who  are  perfected  with  Chriil  ! 

When  thou  walked  fo!th  in  the  evening,  look  up- 
on the  Itars,  in  what  number  they  befj^angle  the  fir-  1 
mament  ;  if  in  the  day  time,  loolc  up  to  the  glorious 
fun  ;  view  the  wide  expanded  heavens,  and  fay  to 
thyfelf,  what  glory  is  in  the  ka(l  of  yonder  liars  I 
What  a  vaft,  what  a  refplcndent  body  hath  yonder 
moon,  and  every  planet  !  What  an  inconceivable 
glory  hath  the  fun  I  Why,  all  this  is  nothing  to  tli-e 
glory  of  heaven.  Yonder  fun  mud  there  be  laid  afjde 
as  ufelefs  ;  for  it  would  not  be  fecn  for  the  bright.nefs 
of  God.  I  fliall  live  above  all  yonder  glory  ;  yon- 
der 


The  Saints  Evdrlqjling  ReJ.     361 

dcr  fun  Is  but  daricnffs  to  the  la  (lie   of  my   FaLlier'i 
"houfe  ;  1  (hall  be  as  glorious  as  that  fun  myfclf. 

So  think  of  the  reft  of  the  creatures.  This  whole 
earth  is  but  my  Father's  foolllool :  this  thund-^r  ii 
nothing  to  his  dreadful  voice  ;  thefe  winds  are  no- 
thin^  to  the  breath  of  his  mouth  :  {o  mucli  wifdoni 
and  power  as  appear  in  thefe  ;  fo  much,  and  far  more 
greatncfs,  and  goodnefe,  and  delight,  (hall  I  enjoy  in 
the  a£lu;il  fruition  of  God.  Surely,  if  the  rain  whiek 
rains,  and  the  fun  which  fliincs  on  the  juft  and  unjufl-, 
"be  fo  wonderful  ;  tl;e  fun  then  which  muft  (hine  on 
none  but  faints  and  angels,  muft  needs  be  wonderful 
and  ravilhing  in  glory. 

6.  Compare  the  tilings  wiiich  ir.ou  fhalt  enjoy 
above,  with  tlie  excellency  of  thofe  admirable  works 
of  Providence,  which  God  doth  exercife  in  the  church, 
and  in  the  world.  What  glorious  things  hath  the 
Lord  wrought !  And  yet  we  (hall  fee  more  glorious 
ihnn  thefe.  Would  it  not  be  an  aftonifhing  fight,  to 
fee  the  fea  ftand  as  a  wall  on  the  right  hand,  and  on 
tlie  left,  and  the  people  of  y/rai7  pafs  fafely  throngli, 
.Tud  Pharaoh  and  his  people  fwallovvcd  up?  If  we  had 
:"ecn  the  rock  to  gufh  forth  ftreams,  or  manna  or  quails 
rained  down  from  heaven,  or  tlie  earth  opsn  and 
fwallow  up  the  v/icked  ;  would  not  all  thefe  have  bet  a 
wonderous,  glorious  fights  ?  But  we  fhall  fee  far 
greater  things  than  thefe.  And  as  our  fights  fnall  be 
more  wonderful,  fo  alfo  they  fi^sall  be  more  fweet :  there 
fhall  be  no  blood  or  wrath  intermingled  ;  we  lliall  not 
then  cry  out  as  Dw^'id^  ivho  fnall  Jl and  before  this  ho^ 
ly  Lord  God  P  Would  it  nut  have  been  an  aftonifhing 
light  to  have'fcen  the  fun  ftand  ftill  in  the  firmament? 
Why,  we  (liall  fee  when  there  fliall  be  no  fun  to  fhir.e 
at  all ;  we  ftiall  behold  for  ever  a  fun  of  more  uiconi- 
parable  brightncfs.  Were  it  not  a  brave  life,  if  wc 
might  ftill  live  among  wonders  and  miracles  j  and 
H  h  Jl 


} 


362     The  Saints  Everlajllng  Reft, 

all  for  us,  and  not  againft  us?  If  we  could  have 
drought  or  rain  at  cur  prayers,  as  EHas  ;  or  if  we 
could  call  down  fire  from  heaven,  to  deftroy  our  ene- 
mies ;  or  raife  the  dead  to  life,  as  El'ijha  ;  or  cure  the 
difeafed,  and  fpcak  ftrange  languages,  as  the  apoftles  ; 
alas,  thefe  are  nothing  to  the  wonders  which  we  fhall 
ice  and  pofTefs  with  God,  and  all  thofe  wonders  of 
goodnefs  and  love  !  We  fhall  pofltfs  that  pearl  and 
power  itfelf,  through  whofe  viitue  all  thefe  woiks  were 
done  ;  we  fliall  ourfelves  be  tlie  fubjefts  of  more  won- 
derful mercies  than  any  of  thefe.  Jonas  was  raifed  but 
from  a  three  day's  burial,  from  the  belly  of  the  whale 
in  the  deep  ocean  ;  but  we  fhall  be  raifed  from  many 
years  rottennefs  and  dull,  and  that  duil  exalted  to  a 
fun-like  glory,  and  that  glory  perpetuated  to  all  eter- 
rity.  What  fayft  thou  ?  Is  not  this  the  greateft  of 
miracles  or  wonders?  Surely,  if  we  obferve  but  com- 
mon providences,  the  motions  of  the  fun,  the  tides 
of  the  fca,  the  Handing  of  the  earth,  the  waiming  it, 
the  watering  it  with  rain  as  a  garden,  the  keeping  in 
order  a  wicked  confufed  world,  with  multitudes  of  the 
like  ;  they  are  all  very  admirable,  but  then  to  think 
of  the  S'lon  of  God,  of  the  vilion  of  the  divine  Ma- 
jefty,  of  the  comely  order  of  the  heavenly  hod  ;  what 
an  admirable  fight  mud  that  needs  be  !  O  .what  rare 
and  mighty  works  have  we  feen  !  what  clear  difcove- 
ries  of  an  almighty  arm  !  wl\at  magnifying  of  weak- 
nefs  !  what  calling  down  of  flrcngth  ?  what  wonders 
wrought  by  moft  improbable  means  !  what  turning  of 
tears  and  fears  into  fafety  and  joy  ?  fuch  hearing  of 
earneft  prayers,  as  if  God  could  have  denied  us  no- 
thing !  All  thefe  are  wonderful  works  :  but  what 
are  thefe  to  our  full  deliverance  !  to  our  final  conqueft  ! 
to  our  eternal  triumph  !  and  to  thr.t  great  day  of  great 
things  ! 

7.  Compare  nlfo  the  mercies  which  thou  (halt  have 
abcvcj  with  thofe  particular  providences  which  thou 

haft 


The  Saints  EverlaJJ'mg  Refl,     363 

liad  enjoyed  thyfelf.  If  thou  be  a  clirillian  Indeed, 
thou  iiaft,  if  not  in  thy  book,  yet  certainly  in  thy 
heart,  many  favours  upon  record  ;  the  very  remem- 
brance and  rchcarfal  of  them  is  fweet  ;  how  much  more 
fueet  u-as  the  adtual  enjoyment  !  But  all  thofe  are  no- 
things to  the  mercies  which  arc  above.  Look  over  the 
excellent  mercies  of  thy  youth,  the  mercies  of  thy  \  per 
years,  the  mercies  of  tiiy  profpeiity  and  of  thy  ^dver- 
lity,  the  mercies  of  tiiy  feveral  places  and  relations: 
are  they  not  excellent  and  innumerable  ?  Canfl  not  thou 
think  on  tlie  feveral  places  thou  haft  h'ved  in,  and  re- 
member that  they  have  each  had  their  feveral  mercies  ? 
The  mercies  of  fuch  a  place,  and  <"ach  a  place  ;  and  all 
of  them  very  rich  and  engaging  mercies  r  O  how  fvveet 
was  it  to  thee,  v^-hen  God  refclved  thy  lad  doubts  ! 
when  he  overcame  and  lilenced  thy  fears  and  unbelief  I 
when  he  prevented  the  inconveniencies  of  thy  life, 
which  thy  own  counfel  would  have  call  thee  into  ! 
when  he  eafed  thy  pains,  when  he  healed  thy  fickncfs, 
and  raifed  thee  up  as  from  the  very  grave  !  Were  not 
all  thefe  precious  mercies  ?  Alas,  thefe  are  but  fmall 
things  for  thee  in  the  eyes  of  God  ;  he  intendeth  thee 
far  greater  things  than  thefe,  even  fucii  as  thefe  are 
fcarce  a  tafte  of.  It  was  a  choice  mercy  that  God 
liath  fo  notably  anfu'crcd  thyprayers,  and  that  thou 
haft  been  fo  oft  and  evidently  a  prevailer  with  him  ; 
but  O  tiiink,  are  all  thefe  fo  fweec  and  precious,  that 
my  life  would  have  been  a  perpetual  mifery  witiiout 
them  !  Hath  his  providence'liftcd  me  fo  high  on  earth, 
and  his  merciful  kindnefs  made  me  great  ?  How  fvveet 
then  will  the  glory  of  his  prefence  be  !  And  how  high 
will  his  eternal  love  exalt  me  !  And  how  great  fliall 
I  be  made  in  communion  with  his  greatnefs  !  If  my 
pilgrimage  and  warfare  have  fuch  mercies  ;  what  fliall 
I  find  in  my  home,  and  in  my  triumph  ?  If  I  have  had 
fo  much  in  this  ftrange  country,  at  fuch  a  diftance 
from  him  ;  what  lliall  I  have  in  heaven,  in  his  Imme- 
diate prefence  I 

8.  Cora- 


3  64    The  Saints  E^jeriajliv.^  Rsj}, 

o.  Compare  tl;e  joy  >Tliic)i  tLoii  fhnlt  n,1ve  in  hea- 
ven, with  that  which  the  fnints  of  God  have  foaincl 
in  tlie  way  to  it,  and  in  ihe  fcretaftts  of  it  :  when 
tiiou  feell  a  heaven'y  man  rtjaic?,  think  what  it  is 
that  fo  i{ffc6\s  him.  It  is  the  property  of  fools  to  re- 
joice in  toys  ;  but  the  people  of  Go^d  are  wifer,  they 
know  wliat  it  is  that  makes  tliem.  L^lad.  When  did 
God  reveal  himfclf  to  any  of  hid  faints,  but  the  joy 
of  their  hearts  was  anfiverable  to  the  [revelation  \ 
When  M->ps  had  been  talking  with  God  in  the 
ir:ount,  it  made  iiis  vifage  fo  fliining  and  glorious, 
that  the  people  could  not  endure  to  behold  it  ;  but  he. 
was  fain  to  put  a  veil  upon  it  :  na  v/ondcr  then  if  the 
fc)oe  of  God  mufl.  be  veiled,  till  we  come  to  that  ftate 
where  we  fliall  be  capable  of  beholding  him,  when 
jhs  'veil  Jl:aU  he  tahrn  atuny^  and  'we  nil  leholding  him 
'-jj'iih  open  face,  fiull  be  changed  into  the  fame  ima^e 
from  glory  to  glory.  ALis,  what  are  the  back  p:\rti 
which  Mfes  faw  from  th.c  clefts  of  the  rock,  to  that 
open  face  which  we  (hall  behold  hereafter  !  What  is 
tliat  revelation  to  John  in  Patmosy  to  this  revelation 
which  wc  fiiall  have  \n  heaven  !  How  fliort  dotli 
Paul's  vifion  come  of  the  faints'  vifion  above  with 
God  !  How  fmall  a  part  of  the  glory  which  we  mult 
fee,  vvao  that  which  fo  ttanfported  Peter  in  the  mount  ! 
I  confefs  thefe  were  all  extraordinary  foretalles ;  but 
little  to  tlie  full,  beatiucal  vifion.  When  David  fore- 
faw  the  refurreC^ion  of  Chrid  and  of  himftlf,  how 
did  it  make  him  break  forth  and  fay,  Therefore  my 
heart  ivas  glad,  and  my  glory  rejiicelh^  ^^y J^'P^  af^fhall 
refl  in  h^jpc.  Think  then,  if  the  forefight  can  raife 
fach  ravidiing  joy,  what  will  the  adlual  pofTtflion  do? 
How  oft  have  we  read  and  heard  of  the  dying  faints, 
who  when  they  had  fcarcc  ftrength  atid  life  to  exprefs 
t!iem,  have  been  as  full  of  joy  as  their  heaUs  could 
hold  ?  And  when  their  bodies  have  been  under  the 
extremities  of  their  ficknefs,  yea,  ready  to  feel  the 
pangs  of  death,    have  yet  had  {q  much  of  heaven  \\\ 

their 


The  Saints  Everlajling  Rejl,     365 

their  fpfrlts,  that  their  joy  hath  far  furpafTed  their  for- 
rows  f  /\nd  if  a  fpark  of  this  fire  be  fo  glorious,  and 
that  in  the  midd  of  the  fea  of  adveriity  ;  what  then  is 
that  fun  of  glory  itfelf .' 

9.  Compare  alfo  the  glory  of  the  heavenly  king- 
dom, with  the  glory  of  the  cliurch  on  earth,  and  of 
Chv'ijl  in  his  Hate  of  humiliation  ;  and  you  may  eafily 
conclude,  if  Q]hrifl  landing  in  the  room  of  finners, 
was  fo  wonderful  in  excellencies,  what  is  Chrijl  at 
the  Father's  right  hand  ?  And  if  the  church,  under 
Iier  fins  and  enemies,  hath  fo  much  beauty  ;  (he  will 
liave  much  more  at  the  marriage  of  the  Lamb.  How- 
wonderful  was  the  Son  of  God  in  the  form  of  a  fer- 
vant  I  Whtn  he  is  born,  the  heavens  mull  pioclaim 
him  by  miracles;  a  new  ftar  muft  appear  in  the  firma- 
ment, aixi  fetch  men  from  remote  parts  of  the  world 
to  worfliip  him  in  a  manger;  the  angels  and  heaven- 
ly hoft  mud  declare  his  nativity,  and  folemnize  it 
with  praifing  and  glorifying  God :  when  he  fets 
upon  his  office,  his  whole  life  is  a  wonder;  water 
turned  into  wine,  thoufands  fed  with  five  loaves  and 
two  fifiies,  tlie  lepers  cleanfed,  the  fick  healed,  the 
lame  rellored,  the  blind  receive  their  fight,  the  dead 
raifed  :  if  we  had  feen  all  this,  fiiould  we  not  have 
thought  it  wonderful  f  The  moil  defperate  difeafes 
cured  with  a  touch,  with  a  word;  the  blind  eyes  with 
a  little  clay  and  fpittle;  the  devils  departing  by  le- 
gions at  command;  the  winds  and  tlie  feas  obeying 
hiswoid:  are  not  all  thefe  wonderful?  Think  then, 
how  wonderful  is  his  celeliial  glory  !  If  there  be  fuch 
cutting  down  of  boughs,  and  fpreading  of  garments, 
and  crying,  hofanna,  to  one  that  comes  into  Jerufa- 
lem  riding  on  ao  afs  ;  vv^hat  will  there  be  when  he 
comes  with  his  angels  in  his  glory  ?  If  they  that  hear 
him  preach  the  gofpel  of  the  kingdom,  have  their 
hearts  turned  within  them,  that  they  turn  and  fay, 
Ncvsr  manfpQKe  like  this  man  ;  then  fure  they  that  bi- 
H  h  2  hold 


366    The  Siihtts  E'vcrlcifthig  Rejl. 

lioIJ  liis  i-najcily  in  his  kingd;)m,  will  fay,  There  ix^as^ 
rxei'er  ylcry  lihe  this  glory.  If  when  his  enemies  come 
to  apprehend  him,  tlic  word  of  his  moiiih  doth  caft* 
ihcm  all  to  the  p;roL;nd  ;  if  when  he  is  dying,  the 
earth  miifl:  tremble,  the  veil  of  the  temple  rend,  the 
inn  in  t!)e  firmament  hide  its  face,  and  tl'.e  dead  bo- 
dies of  the  faints  arife  :  G  what  a  day  will  it  be, 
when  lic  will  .once  more  fhake,  not  the  earth  only, 
but  the  heavens  alfo,  and  remove  the  things  that  arc- 
ihaken  !  when  this  fun  fuall  be  tal-sen  out  of  the  fii- 
inamcnt,  and  he  everlaftingly  darkened  with  the 
brightnefs  of  his  _c;lojy  !  when  the  dead  mnft  air  rife 
nnd  itnnd  before  him  ;  and  all  Jhall  ocknoivleJ^e  him 
to  he  the  Sen  of  God^  and  every  tongue  confefs  bim  to  le 
J^ord  end  King  !  If  when  he  rifeth  again,  the  grave- 
and  death  have  loft  their  power,  and  the  angels  of  hea- 
ven mufl  roll  away  the  (lone,  and  aftonifh  the  watch- 
7vien  tiililiev  areas  dead  men,  ar.d  fend  tlie  tidings  to 
}iis  dejcifled  difciples  ;  if  the  belled  doovs  cannot  keep 
i'iim  out  ;  if  the  lea  be  as  firm  ground  for  him  to  walk 
on  ;  ii  he  can  afcer.d  to  heaven  in  the  light  of  his 
tiifcipleR,  and  fcrd  the  ang^'Is  to  forbid  them  gazing 
r.fter  him  :  O  what  power,  and  dominion,  and  glory- 
then  is  he  now  polVtiIed  of  1  and  muft  we  ever  poffefs 
\*!ih  liim  ! 

Yet  think  further,  are  his  very  fervants  enabled  to 
{.o  fuch  miracles  when  he  is  gone  from  them  ?  Can  a 
few  poor  fifhermen,  and  tent-makers,  cure  the  lame, 
Hnd  blind,  and  fick?  open  ptifons,  deflroy  tlie  difo- 
lic'dier.t,  and  raife  the  dead  ?  O  then  what  a  world 
will  that  be,  where  every  one  can  do  greater  works 
than  thefel  It  were  much  to  have  the  d^^vils  fubjc<5l 
to  us;  but  more  to  have  our  names  written  in  the 
bt;ok  of  life.  If  the  very  preaching  of  the  gofpel  be 
iicc'ompanied  with  fuch  power,  that  It  will  pierce  the 
hcait,  and  difcovcr  its  fccrctt;,  bring  down  the  protd, 
ar.d  make   the  Ilaiiy  finuer   litmble,  if  It  can.  make.. 

men 


The  Saints  Everlajling  Re/i,     367 

men  burn  their  books,  Tell  ti.clr  lands,  bring  in  the 
price,  and  hiy  it  down  at  the  preacher's  feet  ;  if  it 
can  make  the  fpirit  of  princes  itooj),  and  the  kings 
of  thfe  earth  refign  their  crowns,  and  C\o  their  homage 
to  jfifus  Chnjl ;  if  it  can  fubdue  kingdoms,  and  con- 
vert thoiifands,  and  turn  the  world  thus  npfide  down  ; 
if  the  very  mention  of  the  judgment  and  life  to  come, 
can  make  the  judge  on  the  bench  to  tremble;  what  then 
is  the  glory  of  the  kingdom  itK-lf?  What  an  libfolutc 
dominion  have  C/jrz/i?  and  his  faints!  And  if  they  have 
this  power  and  honour  in  the  day  of  their  abafemcnt, 
what  will  they  have  in  thsir  full  advancement  ? 

10.  Compare  the  mercies  thou  Hralt  have  above, 
with  the  mercies  which  Chr'ijl  h.nth  here  bellowed  on 
thy  fcnl ;  and  the  glorious  change  wlu'ch  thou  ihalt 
have  at  la(t,  with  t};e  gracious  change  which  the  Spi- 
rit has  wrought  on  thy  heart.  Compare  the  comforts 
of  thy  glorification,  with  the  comforts  of  thy  fan<iti- 
Ucation.  There  ir*  not  the  fmallcft  grace  in  thee  which 
is  genuine,  br.t  is  of  greater  worth  than  the  riches  of 
the  Indies  ;  nor  a  hearty  defire  and  groan  after  ChiiJU 
but  is  more  to  be  valued  than  the  kingdoms  of  the 
world  ;  a  renewed  nature  is  the  very  image  of  God  ; 
icripture  calleth  it,  Chr'ijl  dv:e''!h}g  in  u:,  and  the 
Spirit  of  God  divcl!lr}<r  in  us  :  it  is  a  bean;  from  the 
face  of  God  himfelf;  it  is  the  feed  of  God  remain- 
iHginus;  ic  is  the  only  inherent  beauty  of  the  ratio- 
nal foul;  it  enobleih  manr  above  all  nobility;  it 
fitteth  him  to  underlland  his  Maker's  pleafure,  to  do 
lu's  will,  and  to  receive  his  glory:  tliink  then  with 
thyfclf,  if  this  grain  of  mtflani-feed  be  fo  precious, 
what  i^  the  tree  of  lifn  in  the  midfi  of  the  paradife  cj 
God'f  If  a  fpnrk  of  life  be  fo  much,  how  glorious 
then  is  the  fountain  aud  c:>d  of  this  life  I  M  we  arc 
even  now  laid  to  bs  like  Gud,  and  to  bear'h-s  imager  and 
to  be  holy  as  he  is  holy  ;  furc  we  fhail  then  be  r*3ucii 
likcr  Go'^f  \xlnin   we  are  pcrfeclly  holy,  and  without 

bkiuiik. 


36S     The  Saints  E'uerlajllng  Rcy?. 

blemifh.  Is  the  defire  of  heaven  fo  precious  a  thing! 
what  then  is  the  thing  itfclf?  Is  love  fo  excellent ! 
what  then  is  the  beloved  ?  Is  our  joy  in  forefeeingf 
and  believing  fo  fvveet  !  what  will  be  the  joy  in  the 
full  poflcffion  ?  O  the  delight  that  a  chriftian  hath  ia 
the  lively  exercife  of  fome  of  thefe  affedlions  !  What 
good  doth  it  to  his  very  heart,  when  he  can  feelingly 
fay,  he  loves  his  Lord  !  Yea,  even  thofe  troubling 
paffions  of  fori ovv  and  fear,  are  yet  delightful,  when 
they  are  rightly  exercifed  :  how  glad  is  a  poor  chrif- 
tian uhen  he  feeleth  his  heart  melt,  and  when  the 
thoughts  of  finful  unkindnefs  will  diffolve  it !  Evca 
this  forrow  doth  yield  him  matter  of  joy  :  O  what 
will  it  then  be,  when  we  fhall  do  nothing  but  know 
God,  and  love,  and  rejoice,  and  praife,  and  all  this 
in  the  higheil  perfedion!  What  a  comfort  is  it  to 
my  doubting  foul,  when  I  have  a  little  affurance  of 
the  fincerity  of  my  graces  !  How  much  more  will  it 
comfort  me,  to  find  that  the  Spirit  hath  fafcly  con- 
duced me,  and  left  me  in  the  arms  of  Jefus !  What 
a  change  was  it  tliat  the  Spirit  made  upwn  my  foul, 
when  he  fivtl  turned  me  from  darkntfs  to  light  y  and  from 
the pOTJuer  of  Satan  imto  God  !  To  be  taken  from  that 
hoi  rid  ilate  of  nature,  wherein  myfelf  and  my  aili- 
ons  were  loath  fome  to  God,  and  the  fentence  of 
death  was  paffed  upon  me,  and  the  r^lmighty  took 
me  for  his  utter  enemy  ;  and  to  be  prefently  number- 
ed among  his  faints,  and  called  his  friend,  his  fer- 
vant,  his  fon,  and  the  fentence  revoked  which  was 
gone  forth;  O  what  a  change  was  this!  To  be  taken 
from  that  ftate  wherein  I  was  born,  and  had  lived  fo 
many  years,  and  if  I  had  fo  died  I  had  been  damned 
for  ever;  and  to  be  juftified .  from  all  thefe  crimes, 
and  freed  from  all  thefe  plagues,  and  put  into  the  ti- 
tle of  an  heir  of  heaven,  O  what  an  aflonifhing  change 
was  this !  How  much  greater  will  that  glorious 
change  then  be  !  beyond  expreffing  !  beyond  conceiv- 
ing !  How  oft,  when  I  have  thought   of  this  change 


The  Sahits  Everlajling  Ryl.    369 

In  my  reg-encration,  Iiave  I  cried  out,  O  blcfil'ti  day  I 
and  blciTed  be  the  Lord  that  I  ever  faw  it  !  How  then 
ihall  I  cry  out  In  heaven,  O  bleiiVd  eternity  !  and  blcf- 
fed  be  thci  Lord  that  broug'nt  me  to  it !  Was  the  mer- 
cy of  my  convcrlion  fo  exceeding  great,  that  the  an- 
gels of  God  did  rejoice  to  fee  it  ?  Sure  then  the  mercy 
of  my  falvation  will  be  fo  great,  tliat  the  fame  ?,ngels 
will  congratulate  my  felicity.  This  grace  is  but  a 
fparkthat  is  raked  up  In  the  afhes  ;  it  Is  covered  with 
flcfh  from  the  fight  of  the  world  ;  hut  my  everlafting 
glory  will  not  Le  under  a  btijkely  but  upon  a  1:111,  even 
upon  Sion,  the  mount  of  GoD. 

CHAP.     IX. 

Ho'uj  io  manage  and  watch  over  the  Heart 
through  the  ivhole  Work, 

^T^  FI  E  laflpatt  of  this  direcloty,  Is,  to  guide  you 
X  In  managing  your  hearts  through  this  work,  and 
to  fliew  you  wherein  you  had  need  to  be  exceeding 
watciiful,  I  have  (hewed  before,  what  muft  be  done 
with  your  hearts  In  your  preparations  to  the  work, 
and  in  your  fetting  upon  It  :  1  fhall  now  fhew  It  you, 
in  refpect  of  the  time  of  the  performance.  Our  chief 
work  will  here  be,  to  difcover  to  you  the  danger,  and 
that  will  direft  you  to  the  remedy.  Let  me  therefore 
acquaint  you  before-hand,  that  whenever  you  fet  upon 
this  heavenly  employment.'  you  iTiall  find  your  own 
hearts  your  greateft  hindercr,  and  they  will  prove 
falfe  to  you  in  one  or  all  of  thefe  four  degrees.  FirJ}^ 
they  will  hold  off,  th.at  you  will  hardly  gtt  ti»em  to 
the  work  ;  or  elfe  they  will  betray  you  by  their  idle- 
nefs  in  the  work,  pretending  to  do  it,  wiien  they  do 
it  not  ;  or  iliey  will  Interrupt  the  work,  by  their  fre- 
quent 


37^    The  Sa'niis  Everlajling  Rejl. 

quent  excurfions,  and  turning  afide  to  every  obje£l  ; 
or  they  will  Ipoil  the  work  by  cutting  it  fliort,  and 
be  gone  before  you  have  done  any  good  at  it.  There- 
fore I  forcivarn  you,  as  you  value  the  invaluable  com- 
fort of  this  work,  faithfully  refill  thefe  four  danger- 
ous evils. 

1.  Thou  {halt  find  thy  heart  as  backward  to  this,  as 
to  any  work  in  the  world.  O  what  excufes  it  will 
make  !  what  evafions  it  will  find  out  !  and  what  de> 
lays,  when  it  is  never  fo  much  convinced  !  Either  it 
will  queftion,  whether  it  be  a  duty  or  not  ;  or,  if  it 
be  fo  to  others,  yet  whetlier  it  be  fo  to  thee  ?  It  will 
take  up  any  thing  like  reafon  to  plead  agalnft  it  ;  or, 
if  thy  heart  have  nothing  againft  the  work,  then  it 
will  trifle  away  the  time  in  delays,  and  promife  this 
day  and  the  next,  but  ftill  keep  off ;  orlaftly,  if  thou 
wilt  not  be  fo  baffled  with  excufes  or  delays,  thy 
heart  will  give  thee  a  flat  denial,  and  oppofe  its  own 
u^iwillingnefs  to  thy  reafon  ;  thou  fhalt  fiad  it  dravsr 
back  with  all  the  ftrength  it  hath.  I  fpeak  all  this 
of  the  heart  fo  far  as  it  is  carnal  ;  for  fo  far  as  it  is 
fpiritual,  it  will  judge  this  work  the  fvveetefl  in  the 
world. 

But  take  up  the  authority  which  God  hath  given 
thee,  command  thy  heart  •,  if  it  rebel,  ufe  violence 
with  it  ;  if  thou  be  too  weak,  call  In  the  Spirit  of  Chrift 
to  thine  afiirtance  ;  he  is  never  backward  to  fo  good  a 
work,  nor  will  deny  his  help  in  fo  juft  a  caufe  :  God 
wall  be  ready  to  help  thee,  if  thou  be  not  unwilling 
to  help  thyfelf.  Say  unto  him,  *' Lord,  thou  gaveft 
vcij  reafon  the  command  of  my  tho\ights  andaffefti- 
ons  ;  the  autlion'ty  I  have  received  over  them,  is  from 
thee,  and  now,  behold  they  refufe  to  obey  thine  autho- 
rity ;  thou  commanded  me  to  ftt  them  to  the  work 
of  heavenly  meditation,  but  they  rebel  and  ftubbornly 
jrefufe  the  duty  ;  wilt  thou  not  afiill  me   to  execute 

that 


The  Saints  Everla/ling  Rejl.     37 1 

that  authority  which  thou  haft  given  me  ?  O  fend 
down  thy  Spirit  and  power,  that  I  may  enforce  thy 
commands,  and  effedually  compel  them  to  obey  thy 
will." 

And  thus  doing,  thou  flialt  fee  thy  heart  will  fub- 
mit ;  its  refiftance  will  be  brought  wnder  j  and  its  back- 
wardnefs  will  be  turned  to  compliance. 

2.  When  thou  haft  got  thy  heart  to  the  work,  be- 
ware left  it  delude  thee  by  a  loitering  formality  ;  left: 
it  fay,  I  go,  and  go  not  ;  left  it  trifle  ont  tlie  time, 
while  it  flioiild  be  effedlually  meditating.  When  thou 
haft  perhaps  but  an  hour's  time  for  meditation,  the 
time  will  be  fpent  before  thy  heart  will  be  furious. 
This  doing  of  duty,  as  if  we  did  it  not,  doth  undo 
as  many  as  the  flat  omiftion  of  it.  To  rub  out  the 
hour  in  a  bare  lazy  thinking  of  heaven,  is  but  to  lofe 
that  hour,  and  delude  thyfelf.  What  is  to  be  done  in 
this  cafe  ?  Why,  do  here  alfo  as  you  do  by  a  loitering 
fervant  ;  keep  thine  eye  always  upon  thy  heart  ;  look 
not  f«  much  to  the  time  it  fpendeth  in  the  duty,  as  to 
the  work  that  is  done  :  you  can  tell  by  his  work,  whe- 
ther your  fervant  hath  been  painful  :  allv,  what  afl^etfti- 
cns  have  yet  been  a<5led  ?  How  much  am  I  yet  got 
nearer  heaven  ?  Verily  many  a  man's  heart  muft  be 
followed  as  clofe  in  this  duty  of  meditation,  as  an  ox 
at  the  plough,  that  will  go  no  longer  than  you  are  call- 
ing or  fcourging  ;  if  you  ceafe  driving  but  a  moment, 
the  heart  will  ftand  ftill. 

I  would  not  have  thee  of  the  judgment  of  thofe  who 
think  that  while  they  are  fo  backward,  it  is  better  let 
it  alone  ;  and  that  if  mere  love  will  not  bring  them 
to  the  dirty,  the  fcivice  is  worfe  than  the  omilTlon  : 
thefe  men  underftnnd  not,  Firji,  that  this  argument 
would  certainly  cafnier  all  fpiritual  obedience  ;  nor 
■do  they  undeiftand  well  the  connptnefs  of  their  own 

natures } 


372 


The  Saints  Everhi/ling  Rejl, 


natures;  nor  that  their  finful  undlfpofednefs  will  not 
i'ufpend  the  commands  of  God  ;  nor  one  fin  excufe 
another  ;  efpt;cialiy  they  little  know  the  way  of  God 
to  excite  their  alfeiftions  ;  and  that  the  love  which 
Ihoiild  compel  tlit-m,  mnft  itfclf  be  firft  compelled,  in 
the  fame  fcnfe  as  it  is  faid  to  compel:  love  I  know  is 
a  mofl  precious  grace,  and  fnould  have  the  chief  in- 
terelUn  all  our  duties  ;  but  there  are  means  appointed 
by  God  to  procure  this  love  ;  and  fhall  I  not  ufe  thofe 
means,  till  I  can  ufe  them  fiom  love  ?  that  were  to 
iiegleft  the  means,  till  I  have  the  end.  Muft  I  not 
feek  to  procutelove,  till  1  have  it  already  ?  There  are 
means  alfo  for  the  increafing  of  love  where  it  is  be- 
gun, and  mtans  for  exciting  it  where  it  lieth  dull ; 
and  mud  I  not  ufe  thefe  means,  till  it  is  increafed  and 
excited?  Fall  upon  the  work,  till  thou  art  conftraln- 
id  to  love  ;  and  then  love  will  conftrain  thee  to  fur- 
ther duty. 

3.  As  thy  heart  v.-III  be  loitering,  fo  will  it  be  di- 
verting. It  will  be  turning  afide  like  a  carelefs  fer- 
vant,  to  talk  with  every  one  that  paffeth  by  :  when 
there  fhould  be  nothing  in  thy  mind,  but  the  work 
in  hand  ;  it  will  be  thinking  of  thy  calling,  or  of  thy 
afPiifllons,  or  of  every  bird,  or  tree,  or  place  thou  feeft, 
or  of  any  impertinency,  rather  than  of  heaven.  The 
cure  here  is  the  fame  with  that  before  ;  to  ufe  watch- 
fulnei'"s  and  violence  with  your  own  imaginations, 
and  as  foon  as  they  (lep  out  to  chide  them  in.  Drive 
away  thefe  birds  of  piey  from  tliy  faciifice,  aild  {lri£l- 
ly  keep  thy  heart  to  tiie  v.'oik  thou  ait  upon. 

4.  Laflly,  Be  fure  alfo  to  look  to  thy  heart  in  this, 
that  it  cat  not  off  the  work  before  the  time,  and  run 
not  away  through  wearinofs,  before  it  have  leave. 
Thou  flialt  find  It  exceeding  prone  to  this.  Thou 
mayii  ealily  perceive  it  in  other  duties  :  if  in  fecret 
thou  fct  thyfelf  to  prav,  is  not  thy  heart  urging  thee 

^    fliU 


The  Saints  Everlajling  Reft,     373 

^ill  to  cut  it  n-torl  ?  Doft  thaii  not  frequently  find  a 
motion  to  have  done  ?  Art  thou  not  ready  to  be  up, 
as  foon  almoft  as  thou  art  down  on  thy  hnees  ?  So  it 
will  be  alio  in  thy  contemplations  of  }i?avcn  ;  as  faft: 
as  thou  getteft  up  thy  heart,  it  will  be  down  a^ain  ; 
it  will  be  weary  of  the  work  ;  it  will  be  niindincj 
thee  of  other  biifinefs  to  be  done,  and  ftop  thy  hea- 
venly walk,  before  thou  art  wt  11  warm.  What  is  to 
be  done  in  this  cafe  alfo  ?  Why  the  fame  authoiit)- 
and  refohition  which  brought  it  to  the  work,  and 
obferved  it  in  the  work,  mull  hold  it  to  it,  till  the 
work  be  done.  Stick  to  the  work  till  thy  graces  be 
acted,  thy  affeftions  raifed,  and  thy  foul  refreOied, 
with  the  delights  above  ;  or  if  thou  canll  not  obtain 
thefe  ends  at  once,  ply  it  the  clofer  the  next  time, 
and  let  it  not  go  till  thou  feel  the  blcfling.  Blejfcd  is 
that  fcrvantj  nvbom  his  Lcrd,  ivhsn  he  comes  Jhall  jind 
Jo  doing. 

Thus  I  have  dire3:ed  you  in  this  work  of  heavenly 
contemplation,  and  led  you  into  the  path  where  you 
may  walk  with  God.  But  becaufc  I  would  bring  it 
down  to  the  capacity  of  the  meancll,  and  help  their 
memories  who  are  apt  to  let  flip  the  former  particu- 
lars, I  (hall  herecontra(?t  the  whole,  and  lay  it  before 
you  in  a  narrower  compafs.  But  ftill  I  wifh  thse  to 
remember,  it  is  the  praflice  of  a  duty  that  I  am  di- 
reding  thee  in,  and  therefore  if  thou  wilt  not  prac- 
tifc  it,  do  not  read  it. 

The  fum  is  this,  as  thou  makeft  confclence  of  praj'- 
ing  daily,  fo  do  thou  of  meditation  ;  and  more  efpe- 
cially  on  thejoys  of  heaven.  To  this  end,  fet  apart 
one  hour  or  half  hour  every  day,  wherein  thou  mayil 
lay  afide  all  worldly  thoughts,  and  with  all  pofiible 
ferioufneis  and  reverence,  as  if  thou  wert  to  fpeak 
with  God  hini-felf,  or  to  have  a  fight  of  Chriit,  or 
of  that  bldfed  place  j  fo  v,'ithdraw  thyftlf  into  fome 
I  i  fccret 


^74     ^^^^  Saints  Everlajiing  Rejl, 

fecrct  place,  and  fet  tit)  felf  wholly  to  the  following, 
work:  ifthoucanft,  take  //aat's  time  and  place,  who 
ivent  forth  i-.to  the  field  in  the  evening  to  meditate  :  but 
if  thou  be  a  fervant  or  poor  man  that  cannot  have 
that  k'ifure,  take  the  fiiteft  time  and  place  that  thou 
caiift,  though  it  be  when  thou  art  private  about  thy 
labours. 

When  thou  fetteft  to  the  work,  look  up  toward 
heaven,  let  thine  eye  lead  thee  as  near  as  it  can  ;  re- 
member that  there  is  thine  everlalling  reft  ;  lludy  its 
excellency,  ftudy  its  reality,  till  thy  unbelief  be  fi- 
lenced^  and  thy  faith  prevail  :  if  thy  judgment  be 
not  yet  drawn  to  admiration,  ufe  thofe  lenlible  helps 
and  advantages  which  were  even  now  laid  down. 
Compare  thy  heavenly  joys  with  the  choiceft  on  earth, 
and  lb  life  up  from  fcufc  to  faith;  if  this  mere  con- 
llderation  prevail  not,  then  plead  the  cafe  with  thy 
lieart  :  preach  upon  this  text  of  heaven  to  thyfelf  ; 
convince,  inform,  confute,  inftrut^,  reprove,  examine, 
admonifn,  encourage,  and  comfort  thy  own  foul  from 
this  celeflial  do6lrin^;  draw  forth  thofe  feveral  con. 
:ideraticns  of  thy  reft,  on  which  thy  feveral  aft'etlions 
xnay  work,  efptcially  that  affection  or  giace  which 
thou  intendeft  to  aft.  If  it  be  love  which  thou  wouldft 
ad,  fliew  it  tiie  lovelinefs  of  heaven,  and  how  fuita- 
ble  it  is  to  thy  condition:  i[  it  be  defire,  conlider 
ihv  abfence  from  this  lovely  objecl :  if  it  be  hope, 
confider  the  poflibility  and  probability  of  obtaining 
it:  if  it  be  courage,  confider  the  fingular  afliftance 
and  encouragements  which  thou  mayit  receive  from 
God,  tijc  weaknefs  of  the  enemy,  and  the  neceflity 
of  prevailing  :  if  it  be  joy,  confider  its  excellent,  ra- 
vifliing  g'<J'y)  thy  intereft  in  it,  and  its  certainty, 
and  the  neaniefs  of  the  time  when  ihou  mayft  poflefs 
it.  Urge  tliefe  coniidcrations  home  to  thy  heart  ; 
whet  them  with  all  pofiible  ferioufncfs  upon  each  af- 
f^(^Jc;a  ;  if  thy  hcait  draw  back,  force  it  to  the  work  ; 

if 


The  Saints  Everlajling  Rejl,    375 

if  it  loiter,  fpiir  it  on  ;  If  it  ftep  afide,  command  it 
in  again  ;  if  it  would  flip  away,  and  leave  the  work, 
ufe  thine  authority  :  keep  it  clofe  to  the  bufinefs,  till 
thou  haft  obtained  thine  end  ;  llir  not  away,  if  it  mu' 
be,  till  thy  love  flame,  till  thy  joy  be  raifed,  or  till 
thy  defire  or  other  graces  be  lively.  Call  in  aiTillance 
alfo  from  God,  mix  ejaculations  with  thy  fbliloqiiies  ; 
till  having  ferioufly  pleaded  the  cafe  with  thy  heart, 
and  reverently  pleaded  tlie  cafe  with  God,  thoj  hail 
pleaded  thyfelf  from  a  clod  to  a  flame,  from  a  forget- 
ful finner  to  a  mindful  lover  :  from  a  lover  of  the 
world,  to  a  thirfter  after  God  :  from  a  fearful  cow- 
ard, to  a  refolvcd  chriftian.  In  a  word,  what  will 
not  be  done  one  day,  do  it  the  next,  till  thou  halt 
pleaded  thy  heart  from  earth  to  heaven  :  from  con- 
verfing  below,  to  a  walking  with  G^d  ;  and'  till  thou 
canll  lay  thy  heart  to  reft,  as  13  the  hofom  of  Chvill  ; 
in  this  meditation  of  thy  full  arid  eveilalHng  reft. 

CHAP.     X. 

An  Example  of  this  heavenly  Confemplatmi^for 
the  Help  of  the  UnfkilfuL 

REST  I  How  fweet  a  word  is  this  to  mine  ears ! 
Mtthinks  the  found  doth  turn  touibllancc,  and 
having  entered  at  the  car,  defcended  down  to  my  ve- 
ry heart  ;  methitiks  1  feel  it  ^'w  and  work,  and  that 
through  all  my  parts  and  powers,  but  with  a  various 
work  upon  my  various  parts.  To  my  wearied  fenfes 
and  languid  fpirits,  it  feems  a  quieting,  powerful  opi- 
ate ;  to  my  dulled  powers,  it  is  fpirit  and  life  ;  to  my 
dark  eyes,  it  is  both  cye-falve,  and  a  profpe£live  ;  to 
my  talle,  it  is  fweetncfs  ;  to  mine  ears,  it  is  melody  ; 
to  my  haads  and  feet,  it  is  ftrength   and  nimblcncfs : 

mcthinku 


376    The  Saints  Everhiflivg  Reft. 

Tiietln'nks  I  feel  it  digeft  ss  it  proccc-ds,  and  increafc 
ipy  native  heat  and  raoiftui^,  and  lying  as  a  reviving 
cordial  at  my  heart,  from  thence  doth  fefld  forth 
lively  fpirits,  which  beat  t-li rough  all  the  pulfes  of  my 
foul.  Reft  !  not  as  tl'.e  flone  that  refts  on  the  earth,  nor 
asthefe  clods  of  fleffi  lliall  reft  in  the  grave  ;  fo  our 
beafts  mull  reft  as  well  as  we  ;  nor  is  it  tlie  fatisfyinrj 
cf  our  flc/hly  lufts,  nor  fuch  a  reft  as  the  carnal  world 
defireth  :  no,  no;  we  have  another  kind  of  reft  than 
thefe:  reft  wc  ftiall  from  our  labours,  wliich  wert  but 
tho  way  and  mcnnsto  reft  ;  but  yet  that  ii  the  fmall- 
eil  pert :  O  blcffcd  rc(l,  where  we  fhall  never  reft  day 
nor  nighr,  crying,  //o/y,  holy^  hoJy^  J.crdGod  of  Sal- 
tjuoth  I  where  we  fhall  reft  from  fm,  but  not  from  wor- 
iliip  !  from  fuffering  and  furrow,  but  not  from  folace  1 
C  'e-kfrvd  day,  when  1  ftiall  reft  with  God  !  when  I 
ihall  reft  in  the  arms  and  bofom  of  my  Lord  I  wh«p. 
I  fnall  reft  in  knowin^^,  loving,  rejoiciRg,  luid  praifingj 
when  my  perfcd  foul  and  body  together,  ihall  in  thefe 
perfcdil  a^iin^a  perfedtly  enjoy  the  moft  perfe^.^^  God! 
vhen  Godalfo,  who  is  love  Itfelf,  ftiall  perfedlly  love 
me  !  and  rejoice  over  mc  with  joy  and  finging,  as  I 
lliall  rejoice  in  him  !  How  near  is  that  moft  blefled 
joyful  day  !  it  comes  apace-,  even  A^  i/:}at  comes  wili 
comet  and  loili  not  tarry  :  though  my  Lord  feera  to 
delay  his  coming,  yet  a  little  while  and  he  will  be 
here  :  what  area  few  hundred  yearswhcn  they  are  over  ? 
How  furely  will  his  fign  appear  !  and  how  fuddcniy 
will  he  feize  upon  the  carckfs  world  !  Even  as  the 
lightning  that  fliines  from  eaft  to  weft  In  a  moment. 
He  who  is  gone  hence,  will  even  fo  return  :  methinka 
I  hear  the  voice  of  his  foregoers  !  Methinks  I  fee  him 
in  the  clouds,  with  the  attendance  of  his  angels  in  ma- 
jcfty  and  glory  !  O  poor  fecure  finners,  what  will  you 
now  do  ?  where  will  you  hide  yourfelvcs?  or  what 
ftull  cover  you  ?  Mountains  are  gone,  the  earth  and 
Iteavcns  that  were,  are  pafted  away,  the  devouring^ 
fire  hath  confumed  .all,  ..excent  yciurfelves,  who  mud 


The  Saints  Everla fling  Reft.     377 

be  the  fuel  for  ever  :  O  that  yen  could  confume  as 
foon  as  the  earth,  and  melt  away  as. did  the  heavens  ! 
Ah,  thcfe  vvidies  are  now  but  vain  ;  the  Lamb  him- 
felf  would  have  been  your  friend,  he  would  have  loved 
you,  and  ruled  you,  and  now  have  faved  you  ;  but 
you  would  not  then,  and  now  it  is  too  late  :  never 
cry,  Lord,  Lord  ;  too  late,  too  late,  man  :  why  do(t 
thou  look  about  ?  can  any  fave  thee  ?  Whither  doft 
thou  run  ?  can  any  hide  thee?  O  wretch,  that  liaft 
brought  thyfelf  to  this !  Now  bleffed  are  ye  that  have 
believed  and  obeyed  ;  this  is  the  end  of  your  faitli  and 
patience;  this  is  that  for  which  ye  prayed  and  waited, 
do  you  now  repent  your  fufferlngs  and  foirows  ?  your 
felf  denying  and  holy  walking  \  are  your  tears  of  re- 
pentance now  bitter  or  fweet  ?  O  fee  how  the  Judge 
doth  fmile  upon  you  !  there  is  love  in  his  looks  ;  the 
titles  of  redeemer,  huftsand,  head,  are  written  in  his 
amiable  face ;  hark  !  doth  he  not  call  you  ?  he  bids 
you  Hand  here  on  his  right  hand  ;  fear  not,  for  there 
he  fets  his  fheep  :  O  joyful  fentence  pronounced  by  hid 
mouth  !  Come,  ye  ble/JlJ  of  my  Father^  inherit  the  king- 
dom prepared  for  you  from  ths  foundations  of  the  ivcrld  ! 
vSce  how  your  Saviour  takes  you  by  the  hand ;  the 
door  is  open  ;  the  kingdom  is  his,  and  therefore  yours: 
there  is  your  place  before  his  throne  :  the  Father  re- 
ceiveth  you  as  the  fpoufe  of  his  Son,  he  bids  you  wel- 
come to  the  crown  cf  glory;  never  fo  unworthy, 
crowned  you  mull  be  :  this  was  the  project  of  free 
redeeming  grace,  the  purpofe  of  eternal  love.  O 
blefTed  grace  !  O  bleffed  love  !  O  the  frame  that  my 
foul  Ihall  then  be  in  !  but  I  cannot  exprefs  it,  I  cannot 
conceive  it ! 

This  is  that  jay  which  was  procured  by  forrow  ; 
this  is  that  crown  which  was  procured  by  the  crofs : 
BT.y  Lord  did  weep,  that  now  ray  tears  might  be 
wiped  away  ;  he  did  bleed,  that  I  might  now  rtjolce  ; 
he  was  forfaken,  that  I  might  not  now  be  forfaken  ; 
l.i  2  ^^t 


578    The  Saints  EverJojTing  Rejt, 

he  dlcl  t'lien  die,  that  I  might  now  live.  This  weep- 
ing,  wounded  Lord,  rtiall  I  l>ehold ;  this  bleeding 
Savio\hr  fliall  I  fee,  and  live  in  him  that  died  for  me- 
O  free  mercy  that  can  exalt  fo  vile  a  wretch  I  free  tc» 
rne,  though  dear  to  Chrilt  !  here  mud  1  live  with  ali 
ibefe  faints!  O  com-Tortable  meeting  of  my  old  ac- 
quaintance, with  whom  1  payed,  and  wept,  and  fiif- 
I'crcd  ;  with  whom  I  fpake  of  this  day  and  place  !  I 
iec  the  grave  could  not  contain  you,  the  fea  and  earth 
jTUiit  give  up  their  dead  ;  the  fanve  love  hath  reedeemed 
r.nd  faved  you  alfo  :  this  is  not  like  our  cottages  of 
clay,  ourprifonr,,  our  earthly  dwellings  ;  this  voice  of 
joy  is  Dot  like  our  old  complainings,  oi>r  groans,  our 
i:ghs,  our  impatient  moans ;  nor  this  melodious  praife 
like  our  fcorns  and  revilings,  nor  like  the  oaths  and 
curfes  which  we  heard  on  earth  :  this  body  is  not  li"ke 
the  body  we  had,  nor  this  foul  like  the  foul  we  had, 
TiOr  this  life  like  the  life  that  then  we  h'vcd  ;  we  have 
changevd  cur  place,  we  have  changed  our  (late,  our 
clothes,  our  thoughts,  our  looks,  our  language  ;  we 
have  changed  our  company  for  the  greater  part,  and 
T:he  rcfl  of  our  company  is  changed  itfelf ;  before  we 
were  weak  and  defpifed,  but  now  how  glorious  !  Where 
iire  now  our  different  judgments,  our  divided  fpirits  ? 
Now  we  are  all  of  one  judgment,  of  one  name,  of  one 
i.eart,  of  one  houfe,  and  of  one  glory.  O  fweet  re- 
c'jnciLement!  O  happy  union  !  which  makes  us  hril 
to  be  one  with  Chriii,  and  then  one  with  ourfelves  ! 
Now  our  differences  fliall  be  dafhcd  in  our  teeth  no 
)nore,  nor  the  gofpel  reproached  through  our  folly. 
O  my  .foul,  thou  fhalt  no  more  lament  the  fulFerings 
of  the  faints  ;  never  more  condole  the  church's  ruins; 
never  bewail  thy  fuffcring  friends,  nor  lie  wailing 
over  theii  death-beds,  or  their  graves  :  thou  flialt  ne- 
ver fuffer  thy  old  temptations  from  Satan,  the  world, 
cr  thy  own  flefh  ;  thy  body  will  no  more  be  fuch  a 
burden  to  thee;  thy  pains  and  ficknefles  are  all  now 
cured  .J  thou  fhalt  be  troubled  with  weakucfs  and  wea- 

riiKis 


Tbe'Sa'mts  Everlajling  Reji,      379 

Tinefs  no  more  ;  tliy  head  is  not  now  an  aching  head, 
Kor  thy  heai't  now  an  aching  heart  ;    thy   hunger    and 
thirft,  and    cold    and    fleep,  thy   hibour  and  ftudy  are 
all  gone.     O  what  a  mighty  change  is  this  !   from  the 
dunghill  to  the  throne  ;  from  a  body  as  vile  as  the  car- 
rion in  the  ditch,  to  a  body  as  bright  as  the  Tun  in  the 
firmament  !   from  all  my  doubts  and  fears,  to  thispof- 
fefiion  which  hath  put  me  out  of  doubt  !  from  all  my 
fearful  thoughts  of  death,  to  this  moll  bleiTed  joyful  life  ! 
O   what  a  change  is  this!  farewell  fin  and  fulfcrring  for 
ever:  now  wt'lccme  moft  holy,  heavenly  nature;  which 
as  it  mu'ft  be  employed  in  beholding  the  face  of  God, 
fo  is  it  full  of  God  alone,   delighted    in    nothing    but 
him.     O    who  can  queilion  the  love  wtiich  he  doth  fo 
fweetly  taflc  ?  or  doubt  of  that  which  with  fuch  joy  he 
feeleth  ?  FareweH  repentance,  confelTion  and  fupplica- 
tion  ;  farewell  hope  and  faith  ;  and  welcome  love,  and 
joy,  and  praife.      I    fliall  now    have  my  harveti  with- 
out   plowing   or    fowing ;    my    wine    without   the  la- 
bour of  the  vintage  ;   my  joy  without  a  preacher  or   a 
promife,  even  all  from  tlie  face  of  God  himfclf.   What- 
ever mixture   is  in  the  flrcnms,  there    is    nothing  but 
pure  joy  in    the   fountain.      Here  fhall  I  be  incirclcd 
^vith   eternity,    and  come  forth  no  more  :  here  ihall  I 
live,  acd  ever  live  ;    and   praife  my  Lord,  and  ever, 
ever    praife  -htm.     My  face  will  not  -wrinkle,  nor  my 
hair  be  gray ;  but //-'/x   mortal   hath  put   on   ifJim^yrlaUfy, 
and  this   corruptible   iucGrrupticn^  and  death  is  fzvallc-Ji'ed 
up  in  'C''^ory  :   0  death  1   tvhere  is  thy  Jling  ?     0   grave ! 
luhere  is  thy  viclory  ?  The   date   of    my   leafc    will    no 
more  expire,   nor   (hall  I  lofe  my  joys  through  fear  of 
lofing  them.      When  millions  of  ages  are  paft,  mv  glo- 
ry is  but  beginning;  and   when  millions  more  are  paft, 
it  is  no  nearer  ending.     Every  day  is  all  noontide,  and 
every  month  is   May  or  harveti,  and  every  year  is  there 
a  jubilee,  and  every  age  is  full  manhood;  and  all  this 
tut  one  eternity.     O  blefied  eternity!  the  glory  of  tny 
.j^lory!  the  peifedlion  of  my  perfedion! 


3^0    The  Saints  "E'verlajling  B.tjl, 

Ah  drowfy,  earthly,  blockiili  heart,  how  cooly  doll 
thou  think  of  this  reviving  day !  Doll  thou  deep  when 
thou  thinkeil  of  eternal  rctl  ?  art  thou  hanging  earthr 
ward,  when  heaven  is  before  thee  r  Hadft  thou  rather 
fit  thee  down  in  dung,  than  walk  in  the  court  of  the 
prefence  of  God  ?  Dolt  thou  now  remember  thy  world- 
ly bufinefs  ?  Art  thou  thinking  of  thy  delights? 
Wretched  hcnrt  !  is  it  better  to  be  here,  than  above 
with  God  ?  is  the  company  better  ?  are  the  pleafures 
-greater:  come  away,  make  no  excufe,  make  no  delay. j 
God  commands,  and  1  command  thee,  come  away; 
gird  up  thy  loins  ;  afcend  the  mount,  and  look  about 
thee  with  ferioufnefs  and  with  faith.  Look  thou  not 
back  upon  the  way  of  the  wildernefs,  except  it  be 
when  thine  eyes  are  dazzled  with  the  glory,  or  when 
thou  wouidfl  compare  the  kingdom  with  that  howling 
defert,  that  thou  mayell  more  fenfibly  perceive  the 
mighty  difference.  Fix  thine  eye  upon  the  fun  itfclf, 
and  look  not  down  to  earth -as  long  as  thou  art  able 
to  behold  it;  except  it  be  to  difcern  more  eafily  the 
Lpightnefs  of  the  one  by  the  darknefs  ef  the  other. 
Yonder  is  thy  Father's  glory  :  yonder  muft  thou. dwell 
when  thou  leaveft  this  earth;  yonder  muft  thou  re- 
move, O  my  foul,  when  thou  departeft  from  this  bo- 
dy:  and  when  the  power  of  thy  Doi:d  hath  raifed  it 
again,  and  joined  thee  to  it,  yonder  muft  thou  live 
with  God  for  ever.  There. is  the  glorious  new  Jeru- 
falem,  tije  gales   of  pearly  the  foundations   of  pearl,  the 

Jlreets  and  pavements  of  tranfparent  gold.  Stcft  thou 
that  fun  which  lighteth  all  the  world  ?  Why,  it  muft 
be  taken  down  as  ufelefs  there,  or  the  glory  of  hea- 
ven will  darken  it,  and  put  it  out;  even  thyfclf  fh,all 
be    as   bright   as  yonder  fliining    fun  ;   God  ivtll  be  the 

fuuy  and  Chr'ijl  the  light t  and  in  his  light  Jhak  thou  hava 
light, 

O   wretched  heart  !  hath  God  made  thee  a  promife 
,£'f  reft,  and  wilt  thou  come  fiiort  of  it,  and  ihut  out 

thyfelf 


The  Saints  Evtr Lifting  Reft,    381 

tliyielf  through  unbeh'ef?  Thine  eyes  may  fail  the«, 
thy  ears  deceive  thee,  and  all  thy  fenfes  prove  delufi- 
-ons,  looner  than  a  promifc  of  God  can  delude  thee. 
Thou  mayl\  be  furer  of  that  which  is  written  in  the 
word,  than  if  thou  fee  it  with  thy  eyes,  or  feel  it  with 
thy  hands.  Art  thou  fure  thou  livefl?  or  fure  that 
this  is  the  earth  which  thou  flandeft  on  ?  Art  thou  fure 
thine  eyes  fee  the  fun  ?  As  fure  is  all  this  glory  to  tlic 
faints,  as  fure  (hall  I  be  higher  than  yonder  ftars,  and 
live  for  ever  in  the  holy  city,  and  joyndly  found  forth 
the  praife  of  my  Redeemer,  if  I  be  not  (hut  out  by  the 
evil  heart  of  unhtlitf^  cauftng  me  to  depart  from  the  living 
Odd, 

And  h  tlu3  refl  fo  fweet,  and  fo  fure  ?  O  then,  what 
means  the  carelefa  world  !  Do  they  know  what  it  is 
they  fo  negledl  ?  Did  they  ever  hear  of  it  ?  or  are  they 
yet  aileep  ?  Do  they  know  for  certain  that  the  crowo 
is  before  them,  while  they  thusfit  ftrll,  or  follow  trifles, 
Vv'hen  they  are  ha(ting  fo  fail  to  another  world,  and 
their  eternal  happinefs  lies  at  ftake?  Were  there  left 
one  fpr.rk  of  reafon,  they  would  never  fell  their  reft 
for  toil,  their  glory  for  worldly  vanities.  Ah,  poor 
men  !  that  you  would  once  confidcr  what  you  hazard, 
and  then  you  would  fcorn  thefe  tempting  baits.  O 
bleffed  for  ever  be  that  love,  that  hath  rcfcued  me 
fro.ra  this  mad  bewitching  darknefs  ! 

Draw  nearer  yet,  O  my  foul;  bring  forth  thy 
ilrongeft  love;  here  is  matter  for  it  to  work  ujion :  O 
fee  what  beauty  prefents  itfclf  i  Is  it  not  exceeding 
lovely  ?  Is  not  all  the  beauty  in  the  world  contrafted 
here?  Is  not  all  other  beauty  deformity  to  it  ?  Doll 
thou  need  to  he  pei  fuaded  now  to  love  ?  Here  is  a 
feaft  £br  thine  eyes :  a  fsad  for  all  the  powers  of  thy 
foul :  do(l  thou  need  to  be  entreated  to  feed  uoon  it  i 
•Canft  thou  love  a  little  (hining  earth  ?  Canft  thou 
Jove  a  .walking    piece  of  clay  ?  Ayd  caull   thou  no^ 

loYC 


382     The  Saints  EvcrlajVing  Reji, 

love  that  God,  that  Chrifty  that  glory,  which  is  fo 
truly  and  unmcafinably  lovely  ?  Thou  canll:  love  thy 
friend  becaufe  he  loves  thee:  and  is  tlie  love  of  friends 
like  the  love  of  Chrijl  ?  Their  weeping  or  bleeding 
for  thee  doth  not  eafe  thee  nor  ftay  the  courfe  of  thy 
tears  or  blood  :  but  the  tears  and  blood  that  fell  from 
thy  Lord,  have  all  a  fovereign,  healing  virtue,  and 
?ire  waters  of  life,  and  balfam  to  thy  fainting  fores. 
O  my  foul  !  if  love  deferve.  and  iTiould  procure  love, 
what  incomprehenfible  love  is  here  before  thee  !  Pour 
out  all  the  ftore  of  thy  affeftions  hcie:  and  all  is  too 
little.  O  that  it  were  more  !  Let  him  be  iirft  ferved, 
that  ferved  thee  firft. :  kt  him  have  the  llrength  of  thy 
love,  wh.o  parted  with  flrength  and  life  in  love  to 
thee  :  if  thou  hafl  any  to  fparc  when  he  hath  his  part, 
let  it  be  imparted  then  to  (landers  by.  See  wiiat  a 
fea  of  love  is  here  before  thee  :  caft  thyfelf  into  this 
ocean  of  his  love  :  fear  not  though  it  fecm  a  furnace 
of  fire,  and  the  hotted  that  was  ever  kindled  upon 
■earth,  yet  it  is  the  fire  of  love. and  not  of-Avrath  ;  a 
iirt  moft  efFeftud  to  extinguifh  fire;  never  intended 
•to  confurne,  but  to  orlorify  thee:  venture  into  it  then 
in  thy  believing  me-tiitatlons,  and  walk  in  thefe  flames 
with  the  Son  of  God  :  when  thou  art  once  fn,  thou 
wilt  be  forry  to  come  forth  again.  O  my  foul  !  what 
ivantefl  tiiou  here  to  provoke  thy  love  ?  Do.l  thou 
love  for  excellency  ?  Why  thou  feeft  nothing  below 
but  bafentfs,  except  as  they  relate  to  thy  enjoyments 
above.  Yonder  is  the  Co/hen^  the  region  of  light  ; 
this  is  a  land  of  palpable  darknefs.  Yonder  ftars,  that 
ihining  moon,  the  radiant  fun,  are  all  but  as  the  Ian- 
thorns  hanged  out  at  thy  Father's  houfe  to  light  thee 
while  thou  walkell  in  the  dark  ftreets  of  the  earth  : 
but  little  doft  thou  know  the  glory  that  is  within  ! 
Doll  thou  love  for  fuitablenefs  ?  Why  what  perfon 
more  fiiitable  than  CAr//??  his  godhead,  his  manhood, 
his  fulncfs,  his  freenefs,  his  willlngnefs,  ^^^s  conltan- 
€Vi    do    all    proclaim    him   thy  mo.il  fultable  friend. 

Whar- 


The  Saints  Everlajiing  Rejl.     3S3 

What  (late  more  fultable  to  thy  mifery,  than  that  of 
mercy  ?  Or  to  thy  finfulnefs  and  bafenefs,  than  that 
of  honour  and  perfeftion  ?  What  place  more  fuitable 
to  thee  than  heaven  ?  Thou  haft  had  a  fufficient  trial 
of  this  world :  doil  thou  find  it  agree  with  thy  nature 
or  delires  ?  Are  thefe  common  abominations,  thefe 
heavy  fufferings,  thefe  unfatisfying  vanities,  fuitable 
to  thee  ?  Or  doll  thou  love  for  intereft  and  near  rela- 
tion ?  Where  haft  thou  better  intereft  than  in  heaven  ? 
or  where  haft  thou  nearer  relation  than  there  ?  Doll 
thou  love  for  acquaintance  and  familiarity  ?  Why 
though  thine  eyes  have  never  feen  the  Lord,  yet  he 
is  never  the  further  from  thee.  If  thy  fon  weie  blind, 
yet  he  would  love  thee  his  father,  though  he  never 
faw  thee.  Thou  haft  heard  the  voice  of  Chrijl  to  thy 
very  heart,  thou  haft  received  his  benefits:  thou  haft 
lived  in  his  bofom,  and  art  thou  not  yet  acquainted 
with  him  ?  It  is  he  that  brought  thee  fcafonably  and 
fafely  into  the  world  :  it  is  he  that  nurfed  thee  in 
thy  tender  infancy,  and  helped  thee  when  thou  couldfl 
not  help  thyfelf :  he  taught  thee  to  go,  to  fpeak,  to 
read,  to  underftand  ;  he  taught  thee  to  know  thyfelf 
and  him  :  he  opened  thee  that  firft  window  whereby 
thou  faweft  into  heaven :  haft  thou  forgotten  fmce 
thy  heart  was  carelefs,  and  he  did  quicken  it,  and 
make  it  yield  ?  When  it  was  at  peace,  and  he  did 
trouble  it .''  And  bioken,  till  he  did  heal  it  again? 
Haft  thou  forgotten  the  time,  nay,  the  many  times 
when  he  found  thee  in  lecret,  all  in  tears  ;  when  he 
heard  thy  fighs  and  groans,  and  left  all  to  come  and 
comfort  thee?  When  he  came  in  upon  thee,  and  took 
thee  up,  as  ic  were  in  his  arm?,  and  afl<ed  thee,  poor 
foul,  what  alleth  thee?  Doft  thou  weep,  when  I  liave 
wept  fo  much  ?  Be  of  good  cheer  :  tliy  wounds  are 
faving,  and  not  deadly.  It  is  1  that  have  made  them, 
who  mtfan  thee  no  hurt :  though  I  let  cut  thy  blood, 
1  will  not  let  out  thy  life. 

Mc  thinks 


384    The  Saints  Everlafting  Rejl. 

Methinks  I  remember  yet  his  voice,  and  feel  thofc 
arms  that  took,  me  up  :  how  gently  did  he  handle 
me  !  How  carefully  did  he  drcfs  my  wounds,  and 
bind  them  wp  !  Alethinks  I  hear  him  ftill  faying, 
though  thou  haft  dcr.lt  unkindly  with  me,  yet  will 
not  1  do  fo  by  thee;  though  thou  haft  fet  light  by 
me  and  all  my  mercies;  yet  both  1  and  all  are  thine  ; 
what  wouldcft  thou  have,  that  I  cannot  give  thee  ? 
and  what  doft  thou  want,  that  I  cannot  give  thee  ?  If 
any  thing  in  heaven  and  earth  will  make  thee  happy, 
it  is  all  thine  own  :  wouldft  thou  have  pardon  ?  thou 
fhalt  have  it.  I  freely  forgive  thee  all  the  debt : 
wouldft  thou  have  grace  and  peace  ?  thou  Hialt  have 
them  both:  v^'ouldft  thou  have  myfelf?  behold  I 
am  thine,  thy  friend,  tl^y  l^ord,  thy  hufband,  and 
thy  head  :  wouldft  thou  have  the  Father  ?  I  will 
bring  thee  to  him  ;  and  thou  fhalt  have  him  in  and 
by  me — Thefe  were  my  Lord's  reviving  words ; 
thefe  were  the  melting,  healing,  quickening  paflages 
of  love.  After  all  this,  when  I  was  doubtful  of  his 
love,  methinks  I  yet  remember  his  convincing  ar- 
guments.— Have  I  done  fo  much  to  teftify  my  love, 
and  yet  doft  thou  doubt  ?  Have  I  made  thy  believing 
it  the  condition  of  enjoying  it,  and  yet  doft  thou 
doubt  ?  Have  I  offered  thee  myfelf  fo  long,  and  yet 
doft  thou  queftion  my  v/illingnefs  to  be  thine  ?  What 
could  I  have  done  more  than  I  have  done  ?  At  what 
dearer  rate  fliould  I  tell  thee  that  I  love  thee  ?  Read 
the  ftory  of  my  bitter  paffion,  wilt  thou  not  believe 
that  it  proceeded  from  love  ?  IDid  I  ever  give  chee 
caufe  to  be  fo  jealous  of  me  ?  or  to  think  fo  hardly 
of  me,  as  thou  dotl  ?  Have  1  made  myfelf  in  the  gof- 
pel  a  lion  to  thine  enemies,  and  a  lamb  to  thee  ;  and 
doft  thou  fo  overlook  my  lamb-like  nature  ?  Have  I 
fet  mine  arms  and  heart  there  open  to  thee,  and  wilt 
thou  not  believe  but  they  arc  ftuit  ?  If  I  had  been 
willing  to  let  thee  perifn,  I  could  have  done  it  at  a 
cheaper  rate :  what  need  1  follow  thee  with   fo   long 

patience. 


The  Saints  Everlajiing  Rejl,    385 

patience,  and  entreating  :  What,  dod  thou  tell  me  of 
thy  wants ;  have  I  not  tnough  for  me  and  thee?  and 
why  doTt  tliou  tell  me  af  thy  unworthinefs,  and  t!iy 
fin?  I  had  not  died,  if  man  had  not  finntd  ;  ifiliou 
•wert  not  a  iinner,  thou  wert  not  for  me  ;  if  thou 
wcrt  worthy  thyfelf,  wiiat  fhouldll  tliou  do  with  my 
worthinefs  ?  Did  I  ever  invite  the  worthy  and  rigli- 
teous  ?  or  did  I  ever  fave  or  juftify  fuch  i*  oris  thexe 
any  fuch  on  earth  ?  Had  thou  nothing  ?  art  thou  lolt 
and  miferable  ?  art  thou  helplefs  and  forlorn  ?  dolt 
thou  believe  that  I  am  a  fufficlsnt  Saviour  ?  and  wouldit 
thou  have  me  ?  why  then  take  me.  Lo,  I  am  thine  ; 
if  thou  be  willing,  I  am  willing,  and  neither  fin  nor 
devils  fliall  break  the  match. 

Thefc,  O  thefe  were  the  blefied  wovds  which  hit; 
Srpirit  from  his  gofpel  fpokc  unto  me,  till  he  made 
-me  call  myfelf  at  his  feet,  yea,  into  his  arms,  and 
cry  out,  "  My  Saviour  and  my  Lord,  thou  hall  broke 
my  heart,  thou  hall  revived  my  heart,  thou  hail  over-- 
come,  thou  halt  won  my  heart,  take  it,  it  is  thine  ! 
if  fuch  an  heart  can  pleafe  thee,  take  it :  if  it  cannot, 
make  it  as  thou  wouldll  have  it.^' 

Thus,  O  my  foul,  mayft  thou  remember  the  fweet 
familiarity  thou  halt  had  with  Chrift  ;  therefore  if 
-aequaintauce  will  caufe  affeftion,  O  then  knit  tliy 
heart  unto  him  ;  it  is  he  that  hath  flood  by  thy  bed 
of  ficknefs,  that  hath  cooled  thy  heats,  and  eafed  thy 
'pains,  and  refrefhed  thy  Vv-earinefs,  and  removed  thy 
fears  ;  he  hath  been  always  ready,  when  thou  halt 
earnelUy  fought  him  ;  he  hath  given  thee  the  meet- 
ing in  public  and  in  private  ;  he  hath  been  found  of 
tliee  in  the  congregation,  in  thy  houfe,  -n  thy  cham- 
ber, in  the  field,  in  the  way  as  thou  vvau  walking;, 
in  thy  waking  nights,  in  thy  deepeft  dangers.  If 
bounty  and  compalfion  be  an  attradlive  of  hv^e,  how 
unmtafurably  then  am  I  bound  to  love  him  I  Alltlie 
i\  k  *nsi:ci<;s 


3^86    The  Saints  Eiferlajimg  Reft. 

mercies  that  have  filled  up  my  life  tell  me  this  ;  all  the 
places  that  ever  I  did  abide  in,  every  condition  of  life 
that  I  have  paflcd  through,  all  my  employments, 
and  all  my  relations,  every  change  that  hath  befallen 
me,  all  tell  me,  that  the  fountain  is  overflowing  gocd- 
iiefs. 

Lord,  what  a  fum  of  love  am  I  indebted  to  thee, 
and  how  doth  my  debt  continually  increafe  !•  How 
{hould  I  love  again  for  fo  much  love  !  But  what  !  fliall 
I  dare  to  think  of  making  thee  requital,  or  of  rv^com- 
penfing  all  tliy  love  with  mine  ?  Will  my  mite  requite 
thee  for  thy  golden  mines  r  or  mine,  whicli  is  nothing, 
or  not  mine,  for  thine  which  is  infinite  and  thine  own  ? 
Shall  I  dare  to  contend  in  love  with  thee  ?  or  fet  my 
borrowed  fpark  againft  the  fan  of  love  ?  Can  I  love 
as  high,  as  deep,  as  broad,  as  long  as  love  itfelf  ;  as 
much  as  he  that  made  me,  and  that  made  me  live,  that 
gave  me  all  that  little  which  I  have  ?  Both  the  heart, 
the  fire,  the  fuel,  and  all  were  his :  as  I  cannot 
match  thee  in  the  works  of  thy  power,  nor  make,  nor 
preferve,  nor  guide  the  world  ;  fo  v/hy  fliould  I  think 
any  more  of  matching  thee  in  love?  no,  Lord,  I 
yield,  I  am  overcome  ;  O  bleflVd  conqucfl  !  go  on 
viftovioufly,  and  ilill  prevail,  and  triumph  \n  thy  love  j 
the  captive  of  love  fhail  proclaim  thy  vid^oiy,  wiien 
thou  leaded  me  in  triumph  from  earth  to  heaven,  from 
death  to  life,  from  the  tribunal  to  the  ^hione,  myfelf, 
and  all  that  fee  it,  fliall  acknowledge  that  thou  haft 
})revailed,  and  all  (hall  fay,  Bch'^ld  hoiu  he  loved 
htm  !"•  Yet  let  me  love  thee,  in  fubjcction  to  ijiy  love 
as  thy  rede;.aicd  captive^  though  1  cannot  reach  thy 
mcafure. 

O,  my  fcnil,  begin  it  here  ;  be  fick  pf  love   now, 

that  thou  may  ft  be  well   with  love  tljere  ;   Keep  thyjelf 

now  in  ths  Li^c  of  God,  and  let   ntither  life  nor  death, 

noraii^'Z-^diii^g"  ft:parateth(.e  from  ii,  aud  thou  flialt  be 

i  kept 


The  Saints  Evcylnflmg  Red,     l%  ^ 

•kept  in  the  fulnefs  of  love  forever  ;  f«)r  tlit  Lo-d  hatb 
prepared  a  city  of  love,  a  place  for  the  convAiur.'catlng 
.of  love  to  Ills  chofen,  and  thofe  that  love  his  name  fliall 
dwell  there. 

Away  then,  O  my  drowfy  foul,  from  this  world's 
uncomfovtable  daiknefs!  The  ni^'ht  of  thy  iig^norancc 
and  mifery  is  paft,  the  day  of  glorious  I'lrht  y^^  r\r  hand  : 
this  is  the  day  break  bttwixt  them  Iv.th  :  though  thou 
fee  not  yet  the  fun  it felf  appear,  mell^iuks  the  twilig-hc 
of  proniife  fhould  revive  thee  !  Come  forth  then,  and 
leave  thefe  earthly  cells,  and  hear  thy  Lord  that  bids 
thee  rejoice,  and  again  rejoice  1  Thou  hnd  lain  here 
long  enough  in  thy  prifon  of  flefli,  where  Satan  hath 
been  thy  gaoler,  where  cares  have  been  thy  irons  ;  and 
'fears  thy  fcourge,  and  the  bread  and  water  of  afilidion 
thy  food  ;  where  forrows  have  buo  th.y  lods[ing,  and 
a  carnal,  hard,  unbelieving  heart  the  iron  gates  and 
■bars  that  have  ktrpt  thee  in,  that  tliou  couM(l  f.-arce 
have  leave  to  look  through  the  lattice?,  and  fee  one 
glimpfe  of  the  immortal  light  :  the  ?.ngel  of  the  cove- 
nant now  calls  thee,  and  llrikes  thee,  and  bids  thee 
arife  and  follow  him  :  up,  O  my  foul,  and  cheer- 
fully obey,  and  thy  bolts  and  bars  fhall  ail  fly  open  ; 
do  thou  obey,  and  all  will  obsy  ;  follow  the  Lamb 
which  way  foever  he  leads  thee  :  art  thou  afraid,  be- 
caufe  thou  knowell  not  whither  ?  Can  the  place  be 
worfc  than  where  chou  art  ?  Shouldil  thou  fear  to  fol- 
low fuch  a  guide  ?  Can  the  fun  l<fad  thee  to  a  ftate  of 
•darknefs  ?  Or  can  he  miflead  thee  that  is  the  Hpht  that 
light etb  every  man  that  comet h  into  the  ivorld ?  Will  he 
lead  thee  to  death,  who  died  to  fave  thee  from  it  ?  Or 
can  he  do  thee  any  hurt,  who  for  thy  fake  did  fuffer 
fo  much  ?  Follow  him  and  he  will  fliewthce  the  para- 
difc  of  God,  he  will  give  thee  a  hght  of  the  nev)  jferu- 
faUm,  he  will  give  thee  a  talle  of  the  tree  of  life  :  thy 
,y;inter    Is  paft   and    wilt    thou   houfc   thyfcif  flill  in 

earthly 


388     The  Saints  E-ocrlaJIing  Re/}. 

earthly  thoughts;  and  confine  thyfelf  to  drooping  and 
dulnefs  P 

Come  fortli,  O  my  drooping  foul,  and  lay  afide  llay 
>^'inter,  mourninrr  robes  ;  let  it  be  fcen  in  thy  believ- 
'*"g  joys  and  praife,  that  the  day  is  appearing,  and  the 
Ipring  is  come .;  and  as  now  thoii  fcc(t  thy  comforts 
green,  tliou  (lialt  fhortly  fee  ihcra  white  and  ripe  for 
harveft  ;  and  then  thou,  v.'ho  art  now  called  forth  to 
fee  and  taRe,  fnall  be  called  forth  to  re?p,  andgatlier, 
and  takepoffeffion.  Shall  I  fufpend  and  delay  my  joys 
till  then  ?  Should  not  the  joys  of  the  fpring  go  before 
tlie  jf  ys  of  harvefl  ?  Is  the  heir  in  no  better  a  Hate  than 
thelliive  ?  My  Lord  h^th  taught  me  to  rejoice  in  the 
hope  of  his  glory,  and  to  fte  it  through  the  bars  of  a 
yrifon,  and  even  when  I  ^m  perjecuied for  righteoufnefs- 
/jke,  when  I  am  reviled  and  all  manner  of  evil  fa'id 
ogairjl  me  for  his  fahe,  then  he  liath  commanded  me  to 
rejoice  andhe  exceeding  g^<^^y  btcaufe  of  this  my  great  rc' 
rt>ard  in  he.iven.  How  jullly  is  an  unbelieving  heart 
poffeffed  by  forrow,  and  made  a  prey  to  cares  and  fears, 
when  itfelf  doth  cjeate  them,  and  thruft  away  its  of- 
fered peace  and  joy  !  I  know  it  is  the  plcafure  of  my 
bounteous  Lord,  that  none  of  his  family  fhould  want 
comfort,  nor  live  fuch  a  poor  and  mifeiable  life,  nor 
look  with  fuch  a  famifhed  dejefted  face.  1  know  he 
vfould  have  my  joys  exceed  my  forrows  ;  and  as  much 
as  he  delights  in  the  humble  and  contrite,  yet  doth  he 
more  delight  in  the  foul  as  it  delighteth  in  him.  Hath 
my  Lord  fpread  me  a  table  in  this  wildernefs,  and  fuv- 
nifhed  it  with  promifes  of  everlafting  glory,  and  fet  be- 
fore me  angels'  food,  and  broached  for  me  the  fide  of 
lu's  b.^loved  Son,  that  I  might  have  a  better  wine  than 
the  blood  of  the  grape  ?  Doth  he  fo  importunately 
invite  me  to  fit  down,  and  draw  forth  my  faith,  and 
i<i€^,  and  fpare  not  I  Nay,  hath  he  furnifned  me  to 
that  end  with  reafon  and  faith,  and  a  rejoicing  difpo- 
ition  ?  And  yet  is  it  noffible  th'it  he  fliouid  be  unwil- 
ling 


i 


J 


The  Saints  Everiajling  ReJI,     3S9 

iing  T  (hould  rejoice  ?  Never  think  It,  O  my  unbe- 
lieving foul  ;  nor  dare  charge  him  with  thy  uncom- 
fortable heavinefs,  who  offercth  thee  the  foretaftes  of 
the  highell  deh*g}\t  that  heaven  can  afford,  and  God 
can  beilow.  Doth  he  not  bid  thee  delight  thy i elf  in  the 
Lord  ?  and  promife  to  give  thee  the  dejtrs!  of  thy  heart  ? 
Hath  he  not  charged  thee  to  rejoice  evermore?  Yea,  to 
Jing  aloud,  andfhoutforjoy  ? 

Avi'ay  you  cares  and  fears  !  away  you  importunate 
forrows  !  Hay  here  bt-lov^',  whihl  I  go  up  and  fee  iny 
red.  The  way  is  (Irange  to  me,  but  not  to  Chriit. 
There  was  the  eternal  dwelling  of  his  glorious  Deity  : 
and  thither  hath  he  alfo  brought  his  glorified  fiefn. 
It  was  his  woik  to  purchafe  it ;  it  is  his  vvoik  to  pre- 
pare it,  and  to  prep:jre  me  for  it,  and  to  bring  me  to 
it.  The  eternal  God  of  truth  hath  given  me  his  pro- 
mife, his  feal,  and  his  oath  to  alTureme,  that  heUevir;g 
in  i^hrijl  I  fhj'l  not  perijli^  hut  have  everlajling  life  : 
thither  (hall  my  foul  be  fpeedily  removed,  and  my  bo- 
dy (lioftly  follow  And  can  my  tongue  fay,  that  I 
fhall  (hortly  and  furely  live  with  God,  and  yet  my 
heart  not  leap  within  me  ?  Can  I  fay  it  believifigly, 
and  not  rejoicingly  ?  Ah  faith  !  how  do  I  perceive  tiiy 
weaknefs  ?  ah  unbelief !  if  I  had  never  known  it  be- 
fore, how  fL^nfibly  do  I  now  perceive  thy  malicious 
tyranny  ?  But  were  it  not  for  thee,  what  abundance 
might  I  have  ?  The  light  of  heaven  would  fnine  into 
my  heart,  and  I  might  be  as  familiar  there  as  I  am 
on  earth. 

Come  away  my  foul  then,  {land  not  looking  en 
'that  grave,  nor  turning  thofe  bones,  nor  reading  thy 
leffon  in  thedufl :  tliofe  Hues  will  foon  be  wiped  out : 
but  lift  up  thy  head  and  look  to  heaven,  and  read  thy 
inilruflions  in  thofe  fixed  (lars  :  or  yet  look  higher 
than  thofe  eyes  can  fee,  Into  that  foundation  which 
,iftandcth  fure,  and  fee  tliy  name  written  in  the  book 
J^k  z  ,cf 


390    The  Saints  Kverlajling  Rc^^. 

of  life.  What  if  sn  angel  fnould  come  from  Iiea-ven 
and  tell  thee,  tliat  there  is  a  manfion  prepared  foi  thtc.; 
■that  it  fhall  certainly  be  thine  own,  and  thou  (halt  pof- 
fcfs  it  for  ever  ;  would  not  fuch  a  meflage  make  thee 
glad  ?  and  dofl  thou  make  light  of  the. infallible  word 
o[  promifes  which  were  delivered  by  the  Spirit,  and 
bv  the  Lord  himfelf  ? 

What  delight  have  I  found  in  my  private  ftiidiea, 
cfpccially  when  they  have  profptred  to  the  increafe  of 
knowledge  !  Methinks  I  coidd  bid  the  world  fare- 
well, and  immure  myfelf  among  my  hooks,  and  look 
forth,  no  more  (were  it  a  lawful  courfe)  but  fluit  the 
door  upon  me,  and  among  thofe  divine  fouls  employ 
myfelf  in  fweet  content,  and  pity  the  rich  and  great 
ones  that  know  not  happinefs.  Sure  then  it  is  a  high 
delight  indeed,  .which  in  the  lap  of  eternity  is  en- 
joyed.! 

If  the  queen  of  Shfha  c?^mt  from  JE thlopi a  io\\Q?iX 
the  wifdoni  of  Solomony  and  fee  his  glory  ;  O  how 
gladly  fhould  I  pafs  from  earth  to  heaven,  to  fee  the 
glory  of  that  ctersal  majefty.;  and  to  attain  myfelf 
that  height  of  wifdom,  in  comparifon  of  which  the 
moft  kaincdoH  eartli  are  but  fools  and  idiots  !  If  the 
lieaven  of  glafs  which  the  Perfian  em.peror  framed, 
were  fo  gloiious  a  piece,  and  the  heaven  of  filver 
which  the  emperor  Ferdinand  fent  to  the  great  Turkt 
becaufe  of  their  rnie  artificial  rcprefentations  and  mo- 
tions, what  will  the  heaven  of  heavens  be,  which  is 
not  formed  by  the  art  of  man,  nor  beautified  like 
thefe  childifiitoys,  but  it  is  the  matchlefs  palace  of 
the  great  King,  built  by  himfelf  for  the  refidencc  of, 
his  glory,  and  the  perpetual  entertainment  of  his  be- 
.lovtd  faints  ! 

I  cannot  here  enjoy  my  parents,  or  my  beloved 
friends  without  fome  delight  ;  what  will  it  then  be  to 

live 


The  Saints  Everhijlng  Reji.     391 

itve  in  the  perpetual  love  of  God  !  For  brctliren  here 
.to  live  together  in  unity,  iiovv  good  and  plcafant  a 
thing  is  it  !  To  fee  a  famil)--  live  in  love  ;  hufbands, 
-wives,  parents,  children,  fervants,  doinor  all  in  love 
to  one  another  !  O  then,  what  a  bleiTed  fociety  will  be 
the  family  of  heaven,  and  thofe  peaceabi-^  inhabitants 
of  the  nev/  Jtrufulem  !  Where  is  no  divifion,  nor  difaf- 
fedion,  nor  ilrangenefs,  nor  deceitful  friendfhip  ;  ne- 
.ver  an  angry  thonght  or  look,  never  an  unkind  expref- 
fion,but  all  one  in  Chriil,  who  is  one  with  the  Fathei:, 
and  live  in  the  love  of  love  himfclf. 

Awake  then,  O  my  drowfy  foul,  and  look  above 
this  world  of  forrovv  !  Haft  thou  borne  the  yoke  of 
affiidlions  from  thy  youth,  and  fo  long  felt  the  fniart- 
.jng  rod,  and  yet  canfl  no  better  underfland  its  mean- 
ing ?  Is  not  every  ilroke  to  drive  thee  hence  ?  and  is 
not  the  voice  like  that  to  E  ijah,  tvhat  doji  thou  here? 
up  nnd  aiviy,  Doll  thou  forget  that  fure  prediction 
t;f  the  Lord,  Iji  (he  ivorul  ye  Jhall  hnxe  irrr.hle^  but  in 
Pie  ye Jh all  have  peace.  The  fii  ft  thou  hall  found  true 
-l)y  long  experience  ;  and  of  the  latter  thou  haft  lind  a 
fmall  foretafte  ;  but  the  perfed  peace  is  yet  before, 
which  till  it  be  enjoyed  caii not   be  clearly  up.derftood. 

Ah,  my  Lord,  I  feel  thy  meaning  ;  it  is  written 
in  my  flefh  ;  it  is  engraven  in  my  bones  :  my  heart 
thou  aimeft  at  :  thy  rod  doth  drive,  thy  filken  cord 
of  love  doth  draw  ;  and  all  to  brin^  it  to  thyfclf :  can 
fuch  a  heart  be  worth  thy  having  ?  Make  it  fo,  Lord, 
and  then  it  is  thine:  take  it  to  thyfelf,  and  then  take 
me.  I  can  but  reach  it  towards  thee,  and  not  unto 
thee:  I  am  too  low;  and  it  is  too  dull;  this  clod 
hath  life  to  ftir,  but  not  to  rife  :  as  the  feeble  child 
-to  the  tender  mother,  it  looketh  up  to  thee,  and 
-flretcheth  out  the  hands,  ar.d  fain  would  have  thee 
take  it  up.  Indeed,  Lord,  my  foul  is  in  a  ftrait, 
i^and  what  to  choofe  I  know  not,  but  thgu  knowed 

•.v,-b,.3t 


39^     The  Saints  Everlajiing  Refl, 

■what  to  give  :  to  depajt  and  be  with  thee,  is  befl, 
'but  yet  to  be  in  the  fitHi  feems  needful.  Thou  know- 
eft  I  sm  not  weary  of  thy  woik  ;  1  am  willing  to  ftay 
while  thou  wilt  here  employ  me,  and  to  difpatch  the 
work  which  thou  haft  put  in  my  hands;  but  I  be- 
fecch  thee  ftay  no  longer  when  this  is  done;  and 
while  I  muft  ht  here,  let  me  be  ilill  amending  and 
afcending  ;  make  me  ftill  better,  and  take  me  at  the 
beft.  I  dare  not  be  fo  impatient  of  living,  as  to  im- 
portune thee  to  cut  off  my  time,  and  urge  thee  to 
fnatch  me  hence  :  nor  yet  would  I  ftay  when  my 
work  is  done  ;  and  remain  under  thy  feet,  while  they 
are  '  in  thy  bofom  .  I  am  thy  ciu'ld  as  well  they; 
Chrid  is  my  head  as  Vv^ell  ae  theirs  ;  why  is  there  then 
fo  great  adiilance  ?  I  acknowledge  the  equity  of  thy 
ways  ;  though  we  are  all  children,  yet  I  am  the  pro- 
digal, and  therefore  meeter  in  this  remote  country  to 
feed  on  hufks,  while  they  are  always  with  thee,  and 
pofTefs  thy  glory  :  but  they  were  once  in  my  condi- 
tion, and  I  (hall  fnortly  be  in  theirs  :  they  were  of 
the  lowed  form,  before  they  came  to  the  higheft  ; 
they  fuffered  before  they  reigned;  they  cam.e  out  of 
great  tribulation,  who  now  are  Handing  before  thy 
throne  :  and  (hall  not  I  be  content  to  come  to  the 
crown  as  they  did  ?  and  to  drink  of  their  cup  before 
I  fit  with  them  in  the  kingdom?  I  am  c<mtented,  O 
my  Lord,  to  ftay  thy  time,  and  go  thy  way,  fo  thou 
wilt  exalt  me  alfo  in  thy  feafon,  and  take  me  into  thy 
barn  when  thou  feeft  me  ripe.  In  the  mean  time  I 
may  defire,  though  I  am  not  to  repine  ;  I  may  be- 
lieve and  wi(h,  though  not  make  fmful  h.nfte  ;  I  am 
content  to  wait,  but  not  to  lofe  thee  :  and  when  thou 
feeft  me  too  contented  Vv'ith  thine  abftnce,  quicken 
then  my  dull  delircs,  and  blow  up  the  dying  fp:vk  of 
love  :  and  leave  me  not  till  I  am  able  unfcigUi  dly  to 
cry  out,  As  the  hart  panteth  after  the  brooks^  and  the 
dry  land  thirjleth  for  ivaler-prfcims,  fo  thifhth  r:y  foul 
tfter  tbeej  0  God:  "jjhen  fiall  I  corns  and  appear  before 


The  Saints  Everlajliyig  Reji,     393 

ihe  living  God?  What  Intercfl  hath  this  empty  world 
in  me  ?  and  what  is  there  la  it  tliat  may  feem  fo 
lovely,  as  to  entice  my  defnes  and  delight  from  thee, 
or  to  make  me  loth  to  come  away  ?  Draw  forth  my 
foul  to  thyfclf  by  the  fecret  power  of  thy  love,  as  the 
fun-fiiine  in  the  fpring  draws  forth  the  creatures  from 
their  winter-cells;  meet  it  half  way,  and  entice  it 
to  thee,  as  the  loadftone  doth  the  iron  :  difpel  the 
clouds  that  hide  from  mc  thy  love,  or  remove  the 
fcales  that  liinder  mine  eyes  from  beholding  ihee  :  for 
only  the  beams  that  ftream  from  thy  fact,  and  the  tafte 
of  thy  falvation,  can  make  a  foul  unfeignedly  fay  Lord, 
naw  let  thy  ftrvant  depart  in  peace. 

Send  forth  thy  convoy  of  angels  for  my  departing 
foul,  and  let  them  bring  it  among  the  perfedl  fpirits 
of  the  jult,  and  let  me  follow  my  dear  friends  that 
have  died  in  Chrljl  before  ;  and  when  my  friends  are 
crying  over  my  grave,  let  my  fpirit  be  rcpofed  with 
thee  in  reft,  and  when  my  corpfe  (hall  lie  there  lot- 
ting in  the  dark,  let  my  foul  be  in  the  inheritance  of 
the  faints  \•^  light.  And  O  thou  that  numberetl;  the 
hairs  of  my  head,  nun^bcr  all  the  days  that  my  body- 
lies  in  the  duft  ;  thou  that  writeft  all  my  members  in 
thy  book,  keep  an  account  of  all  my  fcattered  bones; 
and  haften,  O  my  Saviour,  the  time  of  my  return  ; 
fend  forth  thine  angels,  and  let  that  dreadful,  joyful 
trumpet  found  ;  delay  not,  left  the  living  give  up  their 
hopes ;  delay  not,  left  earth  fhould  grow  like  hell, 
and  left  thy  church  by  divifions  be  crumbled  to  duft  ; 
delay  not,  left  thine  enemies  get  advantage  of  thy 
flock,  and  left  pride  and  hypocrify,  and  fenfualicy, 
and  unbelief,  ftiould  prevail  againft  thy  little  rem- 
nant, and  ftiare  among  them  thy  whole  inheritance, 
and  when  thou  comeft  thou  find  not  faith  on  the  eaith; 
delay  not,  left  the  grave  (hould  boaft  of  victory,  and 
refufe  to  deliver  up  thy  due.  O  haften  that  ^leat  re- 
furredtion  day  !  when   thy  command  fhall  go    forth, 

and 


394    ^'^^  Saints  Everlajilng  Reft, 

^nd  none  fhail  difobey  \  when  the  fta  and  earth  flinli 
yield  np  their  hollages,  and  all  that  fleep  in  the  grave 
(hall  awake,  and  the  dead  in  Chr:Jl  fliall  firft  arifej 
when  the  -feed  that  thou  fowedit  corruptible,  fliall 
come  forth  incorrnptible ;  and  graves  that  received 
but  rottennefs,  and  retained  but  dull,  fliall  return  thee 
glorious ftars  and  funs:  therefore  dare  I  lay  down  my 
<;arcaf€  in  the  diift,  entrufting  it.  not  to  a  grave,  but 
to  thee,  and  therefore  my  flefli  fliall  rert  in  hope,  till 
thouraife  It  to  the  everlafling  refl;.  Return,  O  Lord, 
hov7  long !  O  let  thy  kingdom  come  !  thy  defolat^ 
bride  faith  come  ;  for  thy  Spirit  within  her  faith  corner 
who  teacheth  hev  thus  to  pray  with  groanings  which 
-cannot  be  expreffed  :  the  whole  creation  faith  come^ 
waiting  to  be  delivered  from  the  bondage  of  corrup- 
-tfon  into  the  glorious  liberty  of  the  fons  of  God : 
thyfelf  hath  faid,  Surely  I  com^t  ament  even  Jo  come^ 
Lord  Jefus . 

Tpie     C  O  N  C  L  U  S  I  O  N. 

THUS,  reader,  I  have  given  thee  my  beft  advice 
for  the  attaining  and  maintaining  an  heavenly 
conveifation.  The  manner  is  Impevfe(5^,  and  toe 
much  my  own  ;  but  for  the  main  matter,  I  l-eceivcd 
it  from  God  From  him  I  deliver  it  thee,  and  his 
charge  I  lay  upon  thee,  that  thou  entertain  and  prac- 
tii-  it.  If  thou  canft  not  do  it  fully,  do  it  as  thou 
canfl  ;  only  be  fure  thou  do  it  ferioufly  and  frequent- 
ly. If  thou  wilt  believe  a  man  that  hath  made  fome 
fmr^ll  trial  of  it,  tiiou  fhalt  find  it  will  make  thee 
another  man,  and  elevate  thy  foul,  and  clear  thy  un- 
derftanding,  and  leave  a  plcafant  favour  upon  thy 
heart  ;  fo  that  thy  own  experience  will  make  thee 
confefs,  that  one  houvthus  fpent  vvill  mors  etlcdiualiy 

revive 


The  Saints  Everlajling  Reft,    3  95 

revive  thee,  than  many  in  bare  external  duties  ;  and 
a  day  in  tliefc  contemplations  will  afford  thee  truer 
content,  than  all  the  glory  and  riches  of  the  earth. 
Be  acquainted  with  this  work,  and  thou  wilt  be  ac- 
quainted with  God  :  thy  joys  will  be  fpiritual  and 
lafliuiT  ;  thou  wilt  have  comfort  in  life,  and  comfort 
in  death  :  when  thou  halt  neither  wealth  nor  health, 
nor  the  pleafures  of  this  world,  yet  wilt  thou  have 
comfort  :  comfort  without  the  prefence  or  help  of 
any  fiiend,  without  a  niiniftcr,  without  a  booh,  when 
all  means  are  denied  thee,  or  taken  from  thee,  yet 
mayll  tliou  have  vigorous,  real  comfort.  Thy  gia- 
ces  will  be  a<5live  and  viflorious  ;  and  the  daily  joy 
which  is  thus  fetched,  from  heaven,  will  be  thy 
ftrength  :  thou  wilt  be  as  one  that  ftandeth  on  the 
top  of  an  exceeding  high  mountain  ;  he  looks  down 
on  the  world  as  if  it  were  quite  below  him  ;  how 
fmali  do  the  fields,  and  woods,  and  countries  feem 
to  him  ?  cities  and  tov^'ns  feem  but  little  fpots.  Thus 
defpicahly  wilt  thou  look  on  all  things  here  bs-Iovv  : 
the  greateft  pn'nces  will  feem  but  as  gradioppers,  and 
the  bufy,  contentious,  covetous  world,  but  as  heaps 
of  ants.  Men's  threatnings  will  be  no  terror  to  thee  ; 
nor  the  honours  of  this  world  any  ftrong  enticement  ; 
temptations  will  be  harmlefs,  as  having  loft  their 
ilrength  ;  and  afHicf^ions  lefs  grievous,  as  having  loft 
their  fting  ;  and  every  mercy  will  be  better  known 
and  reliilied. 

Reader,  it  is  (under  God)  in  thy  own  choice  now, 
whether  thou  wilt  live  this  blefTed  life  or  not ;  and 
whether  all  this  pains  which  I  hqve  taken  for  thee, 
fivall  profper  or  be  loft.  If  it  be  loft  tlirough  thy  la- 
zinefs,  (which  God  forbid]  thou  wilt  prove  the  great- 
eft  looter  thyfclf. 

O   man,    what  haft  thou  to  mind,    but  God  and 
heaven  ?    art  thou  not  almoft  out  of  ibis  world  alrea- 
dy ? 


396    The  Saints  Everlajling  Rejl, 

dy  ?  doll  thou  not  look  every  day,  when  one  diftafe 
or  other  will  let  out  thy  foul  ?  doth  not  the  bier  Hand 
ready  to  carry  thee  to  the  grave  ?  and  the  worms  wait 
to  feed  upon  thy  face  and  heart  ?  what  if  thy  pulfe 
muft  beat  a  few  llrokesniore  f  and  what  if  thou  haft  a 
few  more  breaths  to  fetch,  before  thou  breathe  thy 
laft  ?  and  what  if  thou  haft  a  few  more  nights  to  flecp, 
before  thou  fieep  in  the  duft  ?  Alas,  what  will  this 
be,  when  it  is  gone?  and  is  it  not  almoft  gone  alrea- 
dy ?  Shortly  thou  wilt  fee  thy  glafs  run  out,  and  fay 
thyfelf,  my  life  is  done  !  my  time  is  gone  !  there  is 
nothing  now,  but  heaven  or  hell :  where  then  fhould 
thy  heart  be  now,  but  in  heaven  ?  Didft  thou  but 
know  what  a  dreadful  thing  it  is  to  have  a  doubt 
of  heaven,  when  a  man  lies  dying,  it  would  roufe  thee 
up. 

O  what  a  life  might  men  live,  if  tliey  were  but 
\v:lling  and  diligent  !  God  would  have  our  joys  to  be 
far  more  than  our  forrows  ;  yea,  he  would  have  us  to 
ha-ve  no  forrow,  but  what  tendeth  to  joy  :  and  no 
more  than  our  fins  have  made  neceffary  for  our  good. 
How  much  do  thofe  chriiiians  wrong  God  and  them- 
felves,  that  either  make  their  thoughts  of  God  tl)c 
inlet  of  their  forrows,  or  let  thefe  offered  joys  lie  by, 
as  neglected  or  forgotten  !  Some  there  be  that  fay,  it 
is  not  worth  fo  much  time  and  trouble,  to  think  of  the 
greatnefs  of  the  joys  above.  But  ?.s  thefe  men  obey 
not  the  command  of  God,  which  requireth  them  to 
have  their  affedlions  on  things  above  ;  fo  do  they  wil- 
fully make  their  own  lives  miferable,  by  rtfufing  the 
delights  that  God  hath  fct  before  them.  And  yet  if 
this  were  all,  it  were  a  fmallcr  matter  ;  if  it  were  but 
lofs  of  their  comforts,  I  would  not  fay  much  :  but  fee 
what  abundance  of  other  mifchi-jf;3  follow  the  nbfence 
^f  thefe  heavenly  delights. 


The  Saints  E'verlafilng  Refc,    397 

J'lrjl^  It  will  (lamp,  if  not  defiroy,  our  very  love 
to  God :  fo  deeply  as  we  apprehend  his  exceedinj^ 
love  to  us,  and  his  purpofe  to  make  us  eternally  hap- 
py, fo  much  will  it  raife  our  love  ;  love  to  God  and 
delight  in  him,  are  flill  conjunct.  They  that  conceive 
of  God  as  one  that  defireth  their  blood  and  damnati- 
on, cannot  heartily  love  him. 

Secondly i  It  will  make  us  have  rare  and  nnpleaHnor 
thoughts  of  God  ;  for  our  thouglits  will  follow  our 
love  and  delight.  Did  we  more  deli^^ht  in  God  than 
in  any  thing  below,  our  thoughts  would  as  freely  run 
after  him,  as  they  now  run  from  him. 

Thirdly,  And  it  will  make  men  have  as  rare  and  un- 
pleafing  fpeech  of  God  ;  for  who  will  care  for  talk- 
ing of  that  which  he  hath  no  delight  in  ?  What  makes 
men  (lill  talking  of-  worldlinefs  or  wickednefo,  but 
that  thefe  are  more  pleafant  to  them  than  God  ? 

Fourthly.^  Men  will  have  no  delight  in  the  ferv'ce  of 
God,  when  they  have  no  delight  in  God,  nor  any" 
fweet  thoughts  of  heaven,  which  is  the  end  of  th«ir 
fervices.  No  wonder  if  fuch  chriflians  complain,  that 
tl)ey  are  (lill  backward  to  dut-y  ;  that  they  have  no  de- 
light in  prayer,  in  facraments,  or  in  fcripturo  iifelf : 
if  thou  couldfl  once  delight  in  God,  thou  wouldit  ea- 
fily  deligiu  in  duty;  efpecially  that  which  bringctii 
thee  into  tfie  ncareft  converle  with  him  ;  but  till  then, 
no  wonder  if  thou  be  weary  of  all. 

Fifthh,  This  want  of  heavenly  delight  will  leave 
men  under  the  power  of  every  afHidlion  ;  they  will 
have  nothing  to  comfort  them,  and  eafe  them  in  thtir 
fufferings,  but  the  empty,  ineffedlual  pleafures  c)f  the 
f^efh  :  and  when  that  is  gone,  where  tiien  is  their  ce-- 
light  > 

L  1  ^;.r/^/,, 


39^       ThiJ  S.ihits  Evcrlnjlhig  Rcji. 

Sixi/ly,  U  \\i..  ii.ui>...  Lt.ciM  itarful  nnd  unwilling  to 
die  If  for  w!»o  would  go  to  a  Cody  or  a  place  tliat  he 
Jiath  no  delight  in  ?  Or  who  would  ]tave  his  pkafiire 
liere,  except  it  were  to  go  to  better  ?  But  if  men  take 
ocli^ht  i;i  God  v.hilll  tliey  live,  they  will  not  trem- 
ble at  the  tidinos  of  death. 

li  God  would  perfuadj  you  now  to  make  con- 
Jcience  of  this  duty,  and  help  you  in  it  by  the  Uef- 
:iJ  iofiUC!>ce  of  his  Spirit,  you  would  not  chnngc 
your  lives  witii  the  grtatdl  prince  oh  earth.  But  I 
ii/u  afraid,  if  1  may  judge  of  your  heaits  by  the  back- 
wardncfs  of  my  own,  that  it  will  prove  a  hard  thin^ 
to  perfuade  you  to  tb.e  work.  JPardon  my  jealfeiufy  > 
it  is  raiu'd  upon  too  many  and  fad  experiments. 
What  fay  you  ?  Do  you  rcfolre  on  this  heavenly 
courfe  or  no  i*  Will  you  let  go  all  your  finful  plca- 
fiues,  and  daily  fetk  thcfe  higher  delights  ?  I  pray 
tliee,  reader,  confider  of  it,  and  refolve  on  the  work 
before  thou  goeil  further.  Let  thy  family  perceive, 
let  thy  neighbours  perceive,  let  thy  confcitnce  per- 
ceive, yea,  let  God  perceive  it,  tliat  thou  ail  a  man 
that  haft  tliy  converlation  in  heaven.  God  hath  now- 
offered  to  be  thy  daily  delight  ;  thy  negledl  is  thy  re- 
fuHil. .  Tiil^e  heed  wlut  thou  dojl  ;  rcfufe  this,  and  re- 
fufe  all  ;  ti:ou  mu;l  have  h-.avoidy  delights,  or  none 
tiiat  are  lading.  God  is  willing  tl»ou  iliouldll:  daily 
Malk  with  \i\:v,f  aiid  f<.-tch  in  confolation  fioni  the  evcr- 
lafHng  fout.iain  :  if  thou  be  unwilling,  bear  the  lofs  ; 
and  when  thou  lied  dying,  then  feel:  for  comfort 
where  thou  canft.  O  how  is  the  unfeen  God  negled^- 
ed,  and  the  tinfeen  glory  forgotten  I  and  all  for  want 
of  that/^///j  w/^;V/j  is  the  fuljlance  of  thing i  hoped  Jor^ 
and  the  e'v'ulence  of  things  that  are  not  fitn. 

But  for  you  wiioft  licarts  God  lirtth  weaned  from  ali* 
tV.ings  here  btlow,  1  hope  you  will  fetch  one  wnik 
daily  iu  the  new  Jtrujulvn  !  God   is  your    love,  and 


I 


The  Saints  Everla/Ilii^  Rcjh     399 

your  defire  ;  and  I  know  you  wor.ld  fain  be  more  ac- 
quainted with  your  Saviour,  and  I  know  it  is  your 
gviff  that  your  hearts  are  not  more  near  him;  and 
that  they  do  not-  moie  pafTionately  love  and  delight  in 
him.  As  ever  you  would  enjoy  your  dellres,  try  this 
life  of  meditation  on  your  everlading  rell. 

O  thou,  the  merciful  Father  of  fpirits,  the  attra£\ive. 
of  love,  and  ocean  of  dch'ghts,  draw  up  thefe  drofiy 
liearts  unto  thyfelf,  and  kefp  them  there  till  ihey'^Sre 
fpiritualized  and  relined,  and  fecond  thef^i  thy  fcrvant's 
weak  eudtavours,  and  p*>'rfuade  thofe  that  read  thefe 
lints,  to  the  practice  of  this  delightful,  hcay.enly  woik, 
O  fuifer  not  the  foul  of  thy  moit  unw?3rthy  fervant  to 
be  a  llranger  to  thofe  joys  which  he  unfoldeth  to  thy 
people,  or  to  be  feldom  in  that  way  which  he  hat  It 
marked  out  to  others;  but  O  keep  me  while  I  tarry  ou 
this  earth,  in  daily,  ferioiis  breathings  after  thee,  and 
!u  a  believing,  affeftionate  walking  with  th-t-e  ;  and 
wlien  thou  comeil,  O  let  me  be  found  fo  doing,  not 
hiding  my  talent,  nor  ferving  my  ilcHi,  nor  yet  afleep 
with  my  lamp  unfurniflied,  but  waiting  and  l>>nging 
for  my  Lord's  return  :  that  thofe  who  {hi.ll  i;i'ud  thefe 
dircftions,  may  not  reap  only  the  fiuit  of  my  (Indies, 
but  the  breathings  of  my  attive  hope  and  love  j  that  if 
my  heart  were  open  to  their  view,  they  might  there 
read  the  fame  mod  deeply  engraven  with  a  beam  from 
the  face  of  the  Son  of  GoJ  ;  and  not  find  vanity  or 
Uilt,  or  pride  within,  where  the  words  of  life  appear 
without  ;  that  fo  thefe  lines  may  not  witnefs  againil 
me  ;  but  proceeding  from  the  heart  of  the  writer,  may 
be  tfiecStual  through  thy  grace  upon  the  heart  of  ^the 
reader,  and  fo  be  the  favour  of  life  to  both. 

Glory  Is  to  God  in  th?  h'lpheji  :  en   earth  peace: 
':^}od-iiill  to-toards  men. 


FINIS. 


CONTENTS. 
The  Saints  Evcrlafting  RelL 

Chap.  PART     I.  .   Page 

I.  "T"^ HIS  Refl  defined  -  -  7 

II.     X     What  this  Rcll  pre-fuppol'eth  -  -  33 

HI,  What  this  Reil  fontaineth  -  -  _  17 

IV.  The  four  g^reat  Preparatives  to  our  Rctl  -  -  2^ 

V.  The  Excellencies'  ofour  Reft  -  •  _  44. 

VI.  I'he  People  of  God  defcribed  -  -  ••  71- 
'J  lie  Cunclufion              -              -              -               -  84  = 

PART     11. 
I.  The  inconceivable  Mifery  of  the  Ung^odly  in  the  Lofsof 

this  Reft  -  .  -  _  8^: 

II.  The  Aggravation  of  thp  Lofsof  Heaven  to  tlie  Ungodly  pt 

HI.  They  Hiall  iofe  all  Things  comfortable  as  well  as  Heaven        106 

IV.  The  Greatnefs  cf  the  Torments  of  the  Damned  difcovered     li; 

V.  The  ftcondufe.   Reprehending  the  general  Negledl  of  this 

Reft,  and  exciting  to  Dili[rence  in  feeking  it  -  12' 

VI.  An  Exhortation  to  Serioufntfs  in  feeking  Reft  -  -      13;- 

VII.  The  third  Ufe.  Perfuading  allMcn  to  try  their  Titles  to  this 

Red;  and  direiling  them  how  to  try,  that  they  may  know   j6; 
VI!I.   Further  Caiiles  of  Doubting  among  Chnftians  -  175 

IX.  Containing  Directions  for  Examination,  and  feme  Marks 

of  Trial  -  .  -  -  iSc 

X.  The  Reafon  of  the  Saints' AfHidlons  here         -         -  i^s 

XI.  An  Exhortation  tothofethat  havegot Afluranceof  this  Ref^, 

that  they  would  do  all  that  poflibJy  they  can  to  help  others 

to  it  -  "  -  -  -  195 

XII.  An  Advice  to fomcmore  particularly  to  help  others  to  this 

Reft  -  -  -  -  5.-3I 

PART     III. 

1.  Reproving  onr  Expectations  of  Reft  on  Earth  -  26.;; 

li.  Motives  to  Heaven ly-mindednefs  -  -  2,75 

HI.  Containing  fonie  Hinderances  of  Hcavenly-mindednefs         !Zy7 

IV.  Some  general  Htlps  to  Hcavenly-mindednefs  -  309 

V.  A  Defcription  of  heavenly  Contemplation  -  3ig 
V!,  The  fjttcft  Time  and  Place  for  this  Contemplation,  and  the 

Preparation  of  the  Ht-art  unto  it  -  -  328 

Vll.  What  Affections  mult  be  aCted,  and  by  what  Confidcra- 

tions,  and  Objetfts,  ami  in  what  Order         -  -  ^■;i<) 

Vlil.  Some  Advantages  and  Helps  for  railing  the  Soul  by  Me- 
ditation -  -  -  -  3j;4 

IX.  How  to  manage  and  watch  over  the  Heart  through  the 

whcle  M^'ork  _  .  .  369 

X.  An  Example  of  this  heavenly  Contemplation,  for  the  Help 

of  the  Unfkiiful  -  -  -  -  37 S 

The  Coutlufioiv-  -  -  -  -  3^4 


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